Disseminating findings is a significant step for every research since it determines how other scientists and audience groups can become familiar with a study and its results. According to Yegidis et al. (2018), there are numerous ways to share these data, and they are internal correspondence or in-service training sessions, professional conferences, professional journals, and dissertations. It is worth mentioning that all these approaches imply their peculiarities. For example, it is reasonable to rely on organization internal venues when it comes to “studies with limited external validity, research on unique client populations, or unreplicated evaluation studies” (Yegidis et al., 2018, p. 324).
Professional conferences are suitable for disseminating studies of more general interest because these events typically gather numerous scientists interested in broad topics. Yegidis et al. (2018) also mention that dissertations are lengthy works that are funded by a specific organization or “designed to meet a graduate degree requirement” (p. 329). Finally, professional journals are considered the most effective way to disseminate research findings because these sources are popular among the public (Yegidis et al., 2018). Thus, authors can use the most suitable way to share their results.
The information above allows supposing that the choice of a dissemination vehicle can offer some information regarding the research value and aims. Narrowly focused or even unique studies should be distributed through internal correspondence, while dissertations involve lengthy papers of a format that is standardized by a funding institution. Regarding more professional sources, conferences and journals are available for authors.
As far as my personal opinion is considered, I would try to disseminate research findings through professional journals since this approach offers essential benefits. Firstly, these sources are popular among many people, which contributes to the spread of knowledge. Secondly, the proposed study should pass a review procedure to be published, meaning that this step can improve research quality (Yegidis et al., 2018). Finally, once a study is published in a professional journal, other scientists can cite it in their works, which will contribute to its spread and popularity in the research field.
Furthermore, it is reasonable to focus on how the study by Poitier et al. (1997) approaches disseminating its findings. The article was submitted to and published in the Child Welfare Journal. It is a scholarly peer-reviewed journal distributing credible and reliable publications that focus on children and what issues they face. That is why clear reasoning explains why these authors decided to submit their manuscript to this source. On the one hand, Poitier et al. (1997) described how to improve the relationship between African American women and their children, which was within the journal scope. On the other hand, the information above has demonstrated that professional journals are the most efficient way to share findings with a large audience.
The information above clarifies that the study’s authors chose an appropriate way to disseminate their findings. Thus, the rite of passage program by Poitier et al. (1997) passed the review procedure and was accepted to publication. However, one should admit that the article was written more than 20 years ago. The research field has revised its requirements to scholarly articles over this period, meaning that the study by Poitier et al. (1997) lacks some details when considered through a modern lens. Thus, the concluding thought is that the article lacks focus on evidence-based practice that is of significance today.
References
Poitier, V. L., Niliwaambieni, M., & Rowe, C. L. (1997). A rite of passage approach designed to preserve the families of substance-abusing African American women. Child Welfare, 76(1), 173-195.
Yegidis, B. L., Weinbach, R. W., & Myers, L. L. (2018). Research methods for social workers (8th ed.). Pearson.