Disseminating Results to the Public

Disseminating Results to the Public

Most research dissemination stops at communicating findings beyond manuscripts and presentations to academic and scientific audiences. Yet disseminating research findings to the broader public is an important component in ensuring that relevant research is communicated to those who can benefit from receiving those results.

To successfully do so, one must consider:

  1. Your audience: who you are disseminating study findings to, and
  2. Your communication methods and channels: how and where the communication will take place.

Please see the resources and tools below to assist in your efforts to disseminate research findings to the general public.

Public Summary Guidelines, Templates, and Examples

A Public Summary is a succinct, easy-to-understand overview of a research study that details the study’s purpose, main findings, and impact. A Public Summary can be developed in tandem with a study’s scientific manuscript and abstract. For guidance on how to develop a Public Summary, see the Guidelines document below. Templates are also available for download to adapt and use, as well as several examples.

For descriptions and examples of other ways to disseminate research findings, visit the Disseminating Results to Study Participants page.

Toolkit Resources