| The flow of new research results and information from scientists to managers, policy makers, and practitioners is an important topic in a variety of disciplines including business management, natural resources, and medicine. The science-management divide may hinder the access and use of research in practice. This divide exists due to varying attitudes, values, language, and culture between scientists and managers, practitioners, and policy makers. A number of agencies and centers have been created to facilitate the flow of scientific information between scientists and working professionals.;Knowledge brokering is one management strategy used to transfer knowledge. Knowledge brokers participate in a variety of activities to bridge the gap between scientists and working professionals, including translating science into nontechnical language, disseminating research results using a variety of channels, and also funding management relevant research. Effective knowledge brokers disseminate research results or information that is trustworthy, useful, easily accessible, and understandable. The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) is a knowledge broker in that it works to bridge the gap between scientists and fire professionals. The JFSP translates, disseminates, and funds research that is applicable to fire professionals.;To determine the effectiveness of the JFSP as a knowledge broker, I surveyed fire professionals and fire researchers associated with the JFSP Knowledge Exchange Consortia to assess the trustworthiness, usefulness, accessibility, and understandability of three JFSP publications. The online survey was created and distributed in collaboration with the JFSP. The survey included questions about JFSP publication readership, trust in the publication as a source of information, usefulness of the information presented in the publication, ease of obtaining or accessing a copy of the publication, and understandability of the information presented.;The majority of respondents found the JFSP publications to be trustworthy, useful, easily accessible, and understandable, which means the JFSP's strength as a knowledge broker is high. The JFSP and other organizations should continue to monitor the perceptions of their readers on the trustworthiness, usefulness, accessibility, and understandability of their publications. By monitoring readers' perceptions, the JFSP will be able to identify areas that need improvement. In addition, as demographics change and new technology emerges, readers' perceptions may change. |
