Channels of Information Creation and Distribution
How information is generated and then made available to a wider audience depends on the discipline or area of research. Below is a simplified model that highlights how this process works.
| Chronology | Types of Information | Creators / Generators | Examples |
| Ideas
generated 0-12 months  |
The "invisible college" (collegial) - a network of experts in the field who provide feedback and support for research projects. |
Individual scholars/ experts Informal subject networks |
Lab and office conversations Private e-mail Conference networking Personal web pages Listservs |
Ideas and theories researched and results presented to colleagues
|
Peer reviewed or scholarly information shared with interested researchers or scholars for the purpose of exchanging research results and conclusions.
|
Faculty Researchers Scholars |
Journals Dissertatons Conference papers |
Research strengthened by practice and more widely reported to professional community 1-3 years |
Information generated by a individuals or groups within a profession, trade, or industry who actively share or exchange this information to further the profession or trade.
|
Professional organizations Trade associations Formal and informal subject networks |
Trade or Professional publications Journals Web sites Conference presentations Listservs Electronic bulletin boards
|
2-3 years |
Information produced and published to reach a wider audience than scholars or professionals. |
Journalists Technical writers Scholars Faculty |
Newspapers Magazines Press releases Non-fiction Books
|
| Implications
of research on public policy and practice 3-5 years |
Information generated by large oversight organizations such as federal, state, or local governments and national or international groups for the purpose of keeping records, statistics, and informing the public on activities and policy. |
Government agencies and departments International Organizations (e.g. UNSECO) National Organizations (e.g AcademyHealth) |
Government documents Technical reports White papers Web Sites |
5-10 years |
Information most often written by experts in a field to synthesize trends, review research practices and findings, and convey accepted facts; written for students, scholars in other fields, and general audiences. |
Scholars Researchers Editors Technical writers |
Review Articles Compilations Encyclopedias Handbooks Bibliographies Almanacs |
