Partnership between academics and practitioners - Addressing the challenges in forensic science

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Scientific Collaboration
• Research Partnerships

Background:

• Academic-practitioner partnerships are crucial for advancing forensic science.
• Understanding the perspectives of those in the field is vital for successful collaboration.
• Existing research often overlooks the nuanced views of academics, practitioners, and 'pracademics'.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the development and perceptions of academic-practitioner partnerships in forensic science.
• To identify perceived benefits, barriers, and success factors for these collaborations.
• To determine how participant roles (academic, pracademic, practitioner) influence partnership views.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous online survey distributed to 56 forensic science professionals.
• Mixed methods analysis: quantitative (chi-square) for closed questions, qualitative (thematic analysis) for open-ended responses.
• Categorization of participants into academic, pracademic (dual role), and practitioner groups.

Main Results:

• High demand for partnerships was identified, with significant benefits including improved practice legitimacy and research credibility.
• Pracademics perceived 'institutional/cultural' issues and 'lack of respect' as greater barriers.
• Greater research and partnership experience correlated with positive views on legitimacy and benefits.

Conclusions:

• Successful academic-practitioner partnerships in forensic science hinge on the 'three R's': Relationship (communication), Relevance, and Reward.
• Addressing specific barriers, particularly those highlighted by pracademics, is essential for fostering collaboration.
• These findings provide a framework for enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of forensic science partnerships.