What are the best ways to use academic blogs to communicate qualitative research findings?

The first step to use academic blogs effectively is choose an appropriate platform: Select a reputable and widely-read academic blog platform that aligns with your research area. Some commonly used platforms include The Conversation, Medium, and individual university or institutional blogs.

Academic blogs can be a great way to communicate research to a wider audience, but it's important to make sure that writing is accessible to diverse audiences with different needs. 3 key tips are: Use simple language: Avoid using jargon or technical terms which the audience may not be familiar with. Always define any technical terms you do use. Keep sentences short and to the point: avoid using long, complex sentences which may cause the reader to lose interest or get lost in your writing. Use the active voice: Direct writing is easier to read and understand; for example instead of saying "interviews with 50 people were undertaken by a team of students in the university," say "Students at the university conducted 50 interviews."

The second step to use academic blogs effectively is craft engaging and accessible content: Write blog posts in a way that is accessible to non-academic audiences. Use clear language, avoid jargon, and provide explanations for any technical terms or concepts. Consider using storytelling techniques or examples to help readers understand and connect with your research.

The third step to use academic blogs effectively is highlight key findings: Clearly articulate the main findings of your qualitative research, emphasizing their significance and relevance. Use subheadings, bullet points, and visuals (such as graphs or images) to break down complex information and make it easier to grasp.

It's interesting how visual representations of a concept can aid any writing to make a compelling case. The beauty of qualitative research are the stories behind it and the emotions it elicits in the readers. And substantiating those stories with images, videos or charts pushes the bar a bit higher. Alternatively, one may add external links to other visual elements such as a YouTube video that explains a dimension of your research, say, a theory, in an animated version. Recently, I was writing a narrative paper on teacher practices and quoted Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory, for which I added a hyperlink to a YT video that sums up the theory in a fun animated way. It goes without saying that these should all be procured ethically.

Beyond the mentioned strategies, consider exploring interactive content like podcasts and webinars, offering a more dynamic way to present qualitative findings. Engaging with comments and discussions on your blog fosters a community, encouraging deeper exploration of topics. Additionally, regularly updating content maintains relevance and interest. Collaborations with other researchers can broaden perspectives and reach. Lastly, personal stories or experiences related to your research can humanize and add depth to your blog posts, making complex economic concepts more relatable and understandable for a diverse audience.