Research into policy

This page covers:

Getting research into policy and practice
Communicating research
Policy advising
Policy analysis

Reading lists

Getting research into policy and practice

Cost-effective tools for managing the SCP evidence base
Brings together four years' work on evidence-based policymaking and knowledge brokering in Defra. An excellent reading list is also available.

Knowledge, policy and power: Six dimensions of the knowledge–development policy interface
Explores six key areas of the knowledge–development policy interface, aiming to stimulate nuanced debates and the development of tools for knowledge translation (Overseas Development Institute, 2009).

Getting a GRIPP on policies: turning research into policy and practice
Reviews the role that research could play in policy making (Human Sciences Research Council, September 2008).

Better evidence for a better world
Selection of working papers promoting evidence-based policy making (Campbell Collaboration, April 2009).

Knowledge to policy: Making the most of development research
Analyses a range of factors determining how research will influence policy (Independent Development Research Centre, 2009).

What evidence should policymakers use?
Recommends using a hierarchy of research methods as a selection aid to policymakers and which may inform decisions on how to evaluate social policy interventions (Australian Treasury, March 2009).

Between ourselves workshop
Report from the second meeting of the I-K-Mediary Group in South Africa on the contribution of research intermediaries to evidence based policy and practice (Institute of Development Studies, July 2008).

Understanding the dynamics of the uptake of research and development results in a developing South African context
Maps knowledge transfer and research uptake, and government, research and development sector interrelationships (CSIR, May 2008).

Developing good taste in research: facilitators of and hindrances to evidence informed health-policy making in state government
Argues that the policy environment informs the development of evidence-informed policy (University of California, published in Milbank Quarterly, 2008).

Utilisation of research findings: extent, dynamics and strategies: discussion document
Establishes the extent to which research findings in South Africa are utilised, and key factors and dynamics involved in the process, so that evidence-based strategies may be developed to increase the utilisation of research findings (National Advisory Council on Innovation, October 2003).

Supplementary report case studies: getting research into policy and practice (GRIPP)
A selection of case studies on implementing policy research in practice (Population Council, July 2007).

How academic research shapes labour and social policy
How research influences policy is viewed through a programme evaluation framework that highlights the difficulties of determining the causal impact of such research on public policy (Institute for Advanced Policy Research, University of Calgary, 2007).

Communicating research

An analysis of the research-policy nexus in Nigeria
A chapter from the online monograph, The policy paradox in Africa (International Development Research Centre, 2005).

Policy researchers and policy makers: never the twain shall meet?
Considers how to improve communications between researchers and policymakers in order to increase the utilisation of research results (Economic and Environment Program for Southeast Asia).

Getting into the kitchen: media strategies for research
Explores links between policy, research and media. Reviews dilemmas, options and approaches available when constructing a media strategy (Panos Institute, 2006).

Toolkit: disseminating research online
This toolkit provides guidelines for communicating academic research online, drawing on best practice for web strategies (Global Development Network, 2008).

Spreading the word: disseminating research findings
A synthesis of a recent UK Department for International Development funded study providing analysis of research dissemination strategies used and factors that aid effective dissemination (Water, Engineering and Development Centre).

Dissemination pathways and indicators of impact on development: a review of the literature
Aims to provide practical guidelines for research dissemination strategies, and includes checklists of questions to inform appropriate dissemination strategies (Water, Engineering and Development Centre).

Converting policy research into policy decisions: the role of communication and the media
Explores the strategies for effective policy communication and makes suggestions on how researchers can reach policymakers and the media to enhance the impact of their findings (International Food Policy Research Institute, 2004).

Maximising the impact of development research: how can funders encourage more effective research communication?
Reports on a workshop on the role of effective communication in maximising the impact of development research. The hypothesis was that funders have a critical role to play in encouraging this (Institute of Development Studies, October 2006).

Policy advising

How to be a better policy advisor: manual
Written to help establish new working relationships between clients (governments of countries implementing public administration reforms, and providers, who are advisors from academia). A training manual, How to be a better policy advisor: supporting reforms in public administration: manual for trainers is aimed at trainers that are interested in organising advisory training courses for academics (The Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe, 2002).

Toolkit for influencing physical policy
Aimed at anyone trying to create a physical activity policy within their community, school or workplace (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association).

Challenges confronting policy advisers
An address to the Curtin Public Policy Forum, Perth (September 2007).

How to influence policy-makers and the policy-making process: tips for disability policy change agents
Presents guidelines, principles and strategies to influence policymakers and the broader policymaking process (Independent Living Research Utilization).

CPSR's approach to advising policymakers
Describes the approach that Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility uses to advise and influence government policymakers. (ACM Portal, June 1998.

Policy analysis

Developing social policy for children in the context of HIV/AIDS: A South African case study
Three policies’ content and the process of policy design, development and implementation are described and analysed (Children's Institute, University of Cape Town, December 2008).

Policy analysis in six easy steps
Policy analysis guidelines based on the ideas and approach followed by CV Patton.

An assessment of the water policy process in South Africa (1994-2003)
This research report provides an interpretation of the policy process followed in developing the White Paper on a National Water Policy for South Africa between 1994 and 2003

A methodology for policy process analysis: livelihood-policy relationships in South Asia
This paper presents an overview of a method developed for policy analysis on livelihood-policy relationships in South Asia

Evaluating policy with a modified 'policy cycle': the NSW healthy school canteen strategy
Reports on an approach to evaluating public policy by adapting two models of policy

A social foundations approach to educational policy analysis
This paper supports the social-foundations perspective and presents a paradigm for analyzing educational policy from that perspective

Evaluating DFID's policy on tackling social exclusion: baseline, framework and indicators
Aims to further explore the development of a baseline and anticipate some of the issues related to an evaluation of the policy on social exclusion

Bibliographies and reading lists

Bibliography on policy analysis
This bibliography is from the Queens University School of Policy Studies

Relevant Reference Literature on Research-Policy Link(Age)S
2007 UNESCO reading list

RAPID's annotated bibliography with summaries of 100 documents on bridging research and policy.

RAPID's documents on research-policy links

RAPID's lessons from the UK for developing countries: literature review of evidence-based policy (EBP) debates.

Communication of research is an annotated bibliography on communication of research for poverty reduction produced for the DFID Research Review

Useful links

Some organisations working in the area of getting research into policy and practice:

Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research
Aims to promote the generation and use of health policy and systems research to improve health systems in developing countries.

Evidence Network
Provides a focal point for those interested in evidence based policy and practice.

Evidence-based Policy in Development Network
A community website with extensive information resources and networking services.

Global Development Network's Bridging Research and Policy project.

HSRC Policy Analysis Unit
Facilitates the generation of policy recommendations based on research evidence and policy dialogues.

Institute of Development Studies
An international organisation focusing on research, teaching and communications on international development.

Overseas Development Institute's Research and Policy in Development (RAPID) project. See particularly its Tools page.

PANOS Institute
Promotes the participation of poor and marginalised people in development debates through media and communication projects.

Key concepts in policy work

Below are terms commonly used in the field of social policy in South Africa.

BENCHMARKING: A comparative assessment of lessons of experience. Comparing indicators of a real situation with the norms of a desired situation or case for evaluation purposes .

EVALUATION: Evaluation is the periodic assessment of performance against agreed upon objectives for the purpose of review.

FORMATIVE EVALUATION: An evaluation done at the early stages of policy implementation to inform or give direction to the process of implementation such as a feasibility study or an interim evaluation.

GOALS: Goals indicate the ‘destination’ and articulate higher order or lower order specific objectives to be attained.

IMPACTS: Long term effects or influence, to obtain a meaningful result.

INDICATORS: An indicator is a measuring instrument that provides a measurable unit for performance against anticipated outcomes and objectives set.

INFORMATION: Interpreted data. Items of knowledge or facts (usually) expressed in quantitative or statistical format.

MONITORING: Monitoring is seen as the ongoing recording and interpretation of information for the purpose of evaluation according to agreed-upon strategic objectives/ goals, anticipated outcomes (including targets), measurable indicators and a reliable information base.

OBJECTIVES: Articulation of the intent of government (policy objectives or strategic objectives) and expresses what the policy or strategic direction is.

OUTCOMES: An articulation of the type of results that the objectives and outputs are meant to achieve. Outcomes can be seen as what outputs should lead to and in turn, outcomes should result in impacts.

OUTPUTS: Outputs are completed operational activities that were successfully accomplished in response to planning objectives, often stated in terms of the number of initiatives, services or products completed.

POLICY: A statement of intent.

PUBLIC POLICY: Statement of intent by government (public sector/ the state)

POLICY ANALYSIS: A systematic analysis of policy options.

POLICY MANAGEMENT: A collective term for the comprehensive facilitation and management of policy in all three the broad phases namely policy development, policy implementation and policy monitoring and evaluation.

STRATEGY: A broad course of action or implementation plan .

SUMMATIVE EVALUATION: An evaluation that focuses on the end product as well as on the impact or changes which a policy or product brought about.

TARGETS: Specific milestones set (as an anticipated outcome), normally in terms of a target date and a stated quantified objective (e.g. 6% annual economic growth).

Research into policy

­Getting research into policy and practice