Changing Landscapes for the Third Sector: Enhancing Knowledge and Informing Practice

“第三部门不断变化的景观”项目汇集了一批关于第三部门的新的动态研究，以交流与该部门未来发展有关的知识和数据。在学术和实践组织之间共享动态的、叙述性的知识和数据，为扩大证据和为从业者、服务提供者和更广泛的公共政策创造影响力奠定了基础。该项目将：- 建立一个关于第三部门的新的和最近的研究项目网络，以便将学术和实践组织聚集在一起进行合作和知识共享;-通过整个网络的存档、数据共享和知识交流方案，在紧缩时期加强关于第三部门的证据基础;对整个网络的调查结果进行审查和综合，并对两个关键数据集进行二次分析，研究与该部门相关的关键主题;- 通过一次从业人员会议和学术期刊《自愿部门审查》的特刊传播这项工作的结果;- 制作针对政策和实践受众的有针对性的产出，包括政策报告和简报文件，培训材料和网络资源，供第三部门工作人员和协调或委托第三部门服务的人员使用。近年来，对第三部门的研究出现了明显的变化。通过前瞻性或回顾性调查方法，对第三部门组织、活动和所涉个人进行“快照”的横截面研究已开始得到动态研究的补充，动态研究创造了该部门的动态画面。最近在一些第三部门研究中采用了定性纵向和个案历史方法，这是这一日益增长的趋势的一部分;正在产生独特形式的数据和知识，这些数据和知识可以揭示该部门的变化是如何产生、经历和经历的，并使人们能够将当前的趋势置于历史和发展背景中（Macmillan et al 2012; Hughes and Emmel 2012; Neale 2012）。以这种方式看待第三部门在紧缩和部门转型时期尤为重要。组织正在努力应对新的和经常减少的资助制度的需求;更加重视社会企业模式;与州和地方政府的关系不断变化;越来越大的压力来证明他们所做的改变;以及参与性质的变化。了解为第三部门做出贡献的组织和个人如何应对和适应这一不断变化的环境至关重要;为这些进程提供资源，以分享实践和经验，将有利于该部门以及第三部门服务的服务提供者和专员。该项目将通过两个相互关联的部分开展工作。第一部分（联网、数据交换、知识和数据交换）将由利兹大学的Timescape与项目伙伴和网络成员合作领导。第二部分（二级证据分析和综合）将由伯明翰大学第三部门研究中心牵头，与项目伙伴和网络成员合作。产出将根据第三部门的使用情况进行调整，包括案例材料，通过不断变化的第三部门景观和一个关于第三部门不断变化的景观的互动式网络知识库，描绘各种途径。将通过该部门的反馈来评估这些产出的影响。

The Changing Landscapes for the Third Sector project brings together a new body of dynamic research on the third sector, in order to exchange knowledge and data of relevance to the future development of the sector. Sharing dynamic, narrative forms of knowledge and data across academic and practice organisations provides the foundation for scaling up evidence and creating impact for practitioners, service providers and for wider public policy. The project will: -Set up a network of new and recent research projects on the third sector, in order to bring together academic and practice based organisations for collaboration and knowledge sharing;- Enhance the evidence base on the third sector in times of austerity through a programme of archiving, data sharing and knowledge exchange across the network; - Conduct a review and synthesis of findings across the network, and carry out a secondary analysis of two key datasets, working with key themes of relevance for the sector;- Disseminate the findings of this work via a practitioner conference and a special issue of the academic journal Voluntary Sector Review; - Produce tailored outputs addressed at policy and practice audiences, including a policy report and briefing paper, training materials and web resources for use by those working in the third sector and those co-ordinating or commissioning third sector services. Over recent years a discernible shift has occurred in research on the third sector. Cross sectional studies that create a 'snap shot' of third sector organisations, activities and the individuals involved, have begun to be complemented by dynamic studies that create a moving picture of the sector through prospective or retrospective methods of enquiry. The recent application of qualitative longitudinal (QL) and case history methods in a number of third sector studies is part of this growing trend; distinctive forms of data and knowledge are being generated that can shed new light on how changes in the sector are created, lived and experienced, and that allow current trends to be placed in historical and developmental context (Macmillan et al 2012; Hughes and Emmel 2012; Neale 2012). Viewing the third sector in this way is particularly important in times of austerity and sector transformation. Organisations are grappling with the demands of new and often reduced funding regimes; greater emphasis on social enterprise models; a changing relationship with the state and local government; increased pressure to demonstrate the difference they make; and changes in the nature of participation. Understanding how the organisations and individuals that contribute to the third sector are responding and adapting to this changing landscape is vital; the provision of resources on these processes to enable a sharing of practice and experiences would be of benefit to the sector and to service providers and commissioners of third sector services. The project will be conducted through two interrelated strands of work. The first strand (Networking, Archiving, Knowledge and Data Exchange) will be led by Timescapes, University of Leeds in collaboration with project partners and network members. The second strand (Secondary analysis and synthesis of evidence) will be led by the Third Sector Research Centre, University of Birmingham, in collaboration with project partners and network members. Outputs will be tailored to third sector use and include case materials charting varied pathways through the changing third sector landscape and an interactive web-based knowledge bank on Changing Landscapes for the Third Sector. The impact of these outputs will be assessed through feedback from the sector.