Furthermore, they often are knowledgeable about the politics surrounding policies about violence and abuse. Researchers, on the other hand, may have skills and experience in other areas. They know how to collect data, conduct statistical tests, draw inferences from data, and write up findings. They know how to evaluate whether a finding is consistent with other studies, and whether a study is scientifically sound. They know formal theories about violence and abuse, and they know how to use data to enter into theoretical and policy debates on a national level.
Researchers can give voice to women and to a point of view, using data to back their perspectives.
For those who are attempting innovations in practice, evaluation research can provide guidance for program development. Conclusion These talents and expertise can be complementary, or they can be a source of tension. The solution to these tensions is, before the research begins, to articulate expectations and goals. Find areas of common purpose and common interests. Then, when you start to work together, create a decision-making structure that makes explicit what people's responsibilities and areas of control are.