null Thesis: Implementation of ArtsEqual research



Pinja Puha's thesis "ArtsEqual-hankkeen tutkimuksen tie käytäntöön" introduces a way to export research data of the arts and cultural research initiative into practice. The aim of the thesis is to find out how the research-based policy brief of the ArtsEqual research initiative has been implemented and what is its societal impact during the first funding period of the project.

The thesis is subscribed by ArtsEqual. The subject of the thesis has risen from the need of the ArtsEqual research initiative to provide this information for the Academy of Finland's Strategic Research Council, which is funding the project.

The thesis deals with the ArtsEqual research initiative’s first policy brief called Cultural rights as a legitimate part of social and health care services. At present, the health, social services and regional government reform is one of the most important societal reforms which has direct impact at the cultural services. The first policy brief of the ArtsEqual research initiative aims to influence political decision-making of the reform and the emergence of future service structures from the cultural rights ́point of view.

The thesis is a qualitative study which uses semi-structured interview as a method of research. Experts who were known to have utilized the ArtsEqual research initiative's first policy brief in their own work were interviewed. The interview data was analyzed using thematic analysis and content analysis method.

Based on the results of the research, conclusions are drawn from the implementation and societal impact of the policy brief. Also suggestions for development have been made. The study shows that the first policy brief of the ArtsEqual research initiative has been implemented during the first funding period but the societal impact is not yet possible to verify. At this point, only assumptions can be made about how the policy brief proceeds from the recommendation to practice and what the societal impact might be.

The thesis can be read in Finnish from this link