title: Knowledge acquisition and research evidence in autism: Researcher and practitioner perspectives and engagement.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Government policy and national practice guidelines have created an increasing need for autism services to adopt an evidence-based practice approach. However, a gap continues to exist between research evidence and its application. This study investigated the difference between autism researchers and practitioners in their methods of acquiring knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a questionnaire study, 261 practitioners and 422 researchers reported on the methods they use and perceive to be beneficial for increasing research access and knowledge. They also reported on their level of engagement with members of the other professional community.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Researchers and practitioners reported different methods used to access information. Each group, however, had similar overall priorities regarding access to research information. While researchers endorsed the use of academic journals significantly more often than practitioners, both groups included academic journals in their top three choices. The groups differed in the levels of engagement they reported; researchers indicated they were more engaged with practitioners than vice versa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comparison of researcher and practitioner preferences led to several recommendations to improve knowledge sharing and translation, including enhancing access to original research publications, facilitating informal networking opportunities and the development of proposals for the inclusion of practitioners throughout the research process.
authors.affiliation: Wales Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. Electronic address: s.carrington@aston.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Carrington
authors.affiliation: Wales Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uljarević
authors.affiliation: Wales Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Wales Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Louise J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Wales Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Lynda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, UK.
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wimpory
authors.affiliation: Wales Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ramsden
authors.affiliation: Wales Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Susan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Leekam
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder; D001321:Autistic Disorder; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D009726:Nurses; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011570:Psychiatry; D011584:Psychology; D012106:Research; D012108:Research Personnel; D000070777:School Teachers; D000068217:Social Workers; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorders; Knowledge sharing; Practice; Research