60 minutes · Framing
Question exchange
Turn a broad interest into a question that could inform a specific decision.
View the agendaEvents & exchange
Make space for
a better question.
Structured conversations for connecting perspectives, examining evidence, and deciding what to try next.
Events & exchange
Useful conversations need a shape.
The agendas below are self-guided workshop formats for small research and innovation groups. Adapt the timings to your setting and use the linked resources to capture the discussion.
Schedule: No dated events or registration are currently listed. These formats are available to use independently; they are not announcements of scheduled sessions.
75 minutes · Methods
Evidence mapping
Identify what is already known, what is assumed, and where a small investigation could help.
View the agenda60 minutes · Evaluation
Pilot clinic
Challenge a proposed pilot before investing in a larger trial.
View the agendaFormat 01 · 60 minutes
Question exchange
Bring: one practical problem, a blank question canvas, and enough context to explain who needs the answer. This format works best when participants bring different perspectives on the same issue.
- 0–10 minutes: describe the situation without proposing a solution. Ask each participant to write the decision they think is at stake.
- 10–25 minutes: compare those decisions. Agree which one is within the group’s influence and what makes it difficult today.
- 25–45 minutes: write two possible research questions. For each, identify an observation that could change the decision.
- 45–60 minutes: choose one question, record its assumptions, and agree on the next information-gathering step.
Take away: a question canvas, a short assumptions list, and one concrete next action.
Open the question canvas →Format 02 · 75 minutes
Evidence mapping
Bring: a research question and a small set of relevant observations or reading notes. Keep the source and setting attached to every piece of evidence.
- 0–15 minutes: restate the decision and agree on key terms. Do not assume that familiar words mean the same thing across disciplines.
- 15–35 minutes: place each observation under “supports”, “challenges”, or “unclear”. Keep assumptions in a separate list.
- 35–55 minutes: look for missing contexts, conflicting observations, and claims that depend on the same underlying source.
- 55–75 minutes: choose the gap that matters most to the decision. Record a feasible way to investigate it and why it comes first.
Take away: a simple evidence map and a prioritised question. The map is a discussion aid, not a systematic review.
Read about moving from evidence to action →Format 03 · 60 minutes
Pilot clinic
Bring: a one-page pilot outline, a description of the current process, and a proposed decision rule. Choose an example that can be discussed without sharing sensitive information.
- 0–10 minutes: explain what decision the pilot will inform and what remains uncertain.
- 10–30 minutes: ask the group to challenge the comparison, participant selection, and proposed observations.
- 30–45 minutes: examine what could produce a misleading result. Consider extra support, novelty, missing observations, and different starting conditions.
- 45–60 minutes: revise the outline and record when to continue, change the design, or pause.
Take away: a revised pilot plan with an explicit learning goal and a record of unresolved concerns.
Open the pilot planning prompts →Keep a record people can use.
End each session with a concise account of the question, the reasoning, and the next step.