Authors: Lawrence F. Felt PhD, Department of Sociology, Memorial University Penelope M. Rowe, Chief Executive Officer, Community Services Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Kenneth Curlew, Research Assistant, Community Services Council of Newfoundland and Labrador

The practice of academic research, particularly in the social sciences and humanities, is changing dramatically. Driven by an emerging consensus among philanthropic foundations, government agencies and other major sources of research funding, a new focus encouraging 'relevancy', transparency, collaboration, multidisciplinarity, practicality and accountability both within academia and between it and the larger society are emerging as important conditions for funding access. Canada is following examples already set in Britain, the United States, France and most other Western societies in refocusing significant portions of resources dispersed through government- funded granting agencies to programs that focus on greater public participation in the defining and executing of social research.

"The role of the researcher is not only to develop knowledge . . . They must become far more proficient at moving the knowledge from research to action, and in the process, at linking up with a broad range of researchers and stakeholder partners across the country."

Download full report here: http://www.envision.ca/pdf/cura/DogsCats.pdf