Social Research and Development
DEFINition
Also referred to as "Social R&D”, this term describes planned creative work aimed at discovering new knowledge or developing significantly improved programs, processes, goods and services. Definition from socialrd.org.
Resources
Stanford Social Innovation Review
Print and online articles, webinars, conferences, and podcasts that bridge research, theory, and practice on a wide range of topics, including human rights, impact investing, and nonprofit business models.
New Frontiers in Social Innovation Research
by Alex Nichols, Julie Simon, and Madeleine Gabriel
Journal of Responsible Innovation
Offers articles that articulate, strengthen, and critique responsible innovation, thus giving further shape to a newly emerging community of research and practice.
Alberta Examples
Eval Lab
An Alberta-based collaboration working to explore how nonprofits can integrate evaluative thinking into their practices for improved learning and decision-making. Visit their website for links, resources, and program overview.
Skills Society Action Lab
See how the Action Lab uses human-centred design principles and research practices to design initiatives that are more likely to generate long lasting impact.
Vivo For Healthier Generations
Vivo views its recreation centre and programs as a “living lab.” The Vivo team uses R&D methods to test and refine initiatives aiming to create healthier generations in Calgary and beyond.
Outside Alberta examples
In With Forward
Using ethnography and research to inform design, making human services more human.
Social R&D
A Canadian network of practitioners dedicated to growing the craft of research and development, on the front-line, to generate new knowledge and innovations that transform lives.