Title: The Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey (CCWS): Exploring knowledge mobilization in the postsecondary context
Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Guy Faulkner
Committee members: Dr. Kerry Renwick, Dr. Jasmin Ma
Defence Chair: Dr. Desmond McEwan
Abstract: The Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey (CCWS) is a mechanism tailored for Canadian postsecondary institutions (PSIs) to gather information about student health and wellbeing. The survey helps to assess and address the health and wellbeing needs of students by providing PSI staff with meaningful data to make policy and program decisions. With an understanding that it takes data users a significant amount of time to mobilize knowledge, there is a need to identify how PSIs are implementing the CCWS data to inform policies and programs, and the barriers and facilitators to this process. This study interviewed 26 staff members from 19 PSIs deploying the CCWS to discuss their experiences during the knowledge mobilization (KMb) process. Adopting a pragmatic paradigm, the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and Framework Method guided data collection and analysis. Most participants described implementing the CCWS data to inform programs (n=17) and a minority of participants described implementing the data to inform policies (n=9). Barriers and facilitators to the KMb process existed within the five CFIR domains: innovation (e.g., Tableau dashboards), outer (e.g., COVID-19) and inner (e.g., work infrastructure) setting, implementation process (e.g., planning), and individual domains (e.g., capability). It is recommended that the CCWS and PSIs address the overarching barriers experienced by PSI staff to facilitate the KMb process in the future (decision-making process; impacts of power; complex non-linear process; context-specific; and responsibility). Recommendations include providing training programs, engaging senior leadership, providing executive summaries, offering webinars, creating a community of practice, creating a data planning tool, and identifying champions. Overall, this study provides insight in how CCWS data has been implemented and identifies potential modifications to facilitate the KMb process. These are intended to maximize the potential of the CCWS in supporting the health and wellbeing of Canadian postsecondary students.