KT-EQUAL/ CARDI Workshop: ‘Lost in Translation’ 23 June 2011 Communicating research results to...
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Transcript of KT-EQUAL/ CARDI Workshop: ‘Lost in Translation’ 23 June 2011 Communicating research results to...
KT-EQUAL/ CARDI Workshop:
‘Lost in Translation’ 23 June 2011
Communicating research results to policy makers: A practitioner’s perspective.
Structure
1. What do policy practitioners expect from researchers?
2. The policy process - Implications for:
3. Communicating research results to policy makers
4. Opportunities for improving links between research & policy practitioners
Better policy-making agenda: Aims:
To improve the capacity to address strategic, cross-cutting issues;
To promote innovation in the development & delivery of policy;
To promote evidence-based policy making, including the dissemination of relevant information and research.
Evidence-based Outward looking
Innovative, flexible & creative
Forward looking
Inclusive
Joined up
Learns lessons
Communication
Evaluation
Review
10 Features of Good Policy Making(OFMDFM, 2003)
May not always proceed as neatly as suggested;
No two policies will need exactly the same process;
Sources of policy making will vary from case to case;
Existing state of policy and its complexity will vary;
Policy process can be blown off course;
Implementation and evaluation stages can be neglected.
The policy process (1)
The Policy Cycle
Political Mandate
Policy Evaluation Policy Development
Policy Maintenance Policy Implementation
The Policy Cycle - Contested Space
Stakeholders: statutory agencies, NGOs, community, business & other
interests
Policy Evaluation
Political Mandate
Policy Maintenance
Policy Development
Policy Implementation
Experience&
Expertise
Judgement
Pragmatics &Contingencies
Resources
Lobbyists &PressureGroups
EVIDENCE
Habits &Traditions Values
Factors Influencing Policy Making in Government (Davies 2004)
The policy process (2)
Time pressures
Use of in-house expertise at branch level
Role of economists / statisticians and other experts
Focus on ‘policy development’
Identified training needs
Policy networks at different levels – EU / Regional / Local
Communicating research results to
policy makers
Essential to develop & sustain a dialogue
Language
Make it policy relevant. Examples:‘Patterns of demographic ageing and related aspects’; ‘Sustainable Regional development from Rhetoric to Practice’; ‘Social impact Assessment in Regional & Land Use planning’
Nature of the policy process
Communicating research results to
policy makers
Theory & Practice
Transfer of Learning
Consider a variety of communication formats to promote
research findings: Examples:‘Britain in 2011: Annual Magazine of the ESRCCommunity newsletters / Alumni news / www.
Think of How the research will be used and quoted.
Early dissemination of research e.g. Working papers.
Communicating research results to
policy makers
Quality is important: Need for internal & external
validity.
Policy cycle: how do the research findings relate to the
policy cycle? (see next slide).
Facilitate collaboration & multi – disciplinarity.
Utilise or develop policy networks.
Communicating research results to
policy makers
Perceptions: Consider how different research disciplines may be perceived: (e.g. Economics / Sociology / Occupational Psychology / Political Science / Public Health /Science / Law).
Policy evaluation: Maximise utility of evaluation findings.
Highlight innovation & creativity: identify the value added contribution of the research. Define the policy challenge – make clear the policy recommendations but outline the limitations of the work.
Communicating research results to
policy makers Examples of research findings presented to policy
officials
Fuel poverty
Devolution in practice
Implication of the ageing population
Equality issues
Early childhood disadvantage
Communicating research results to
policy makers
CONCLUSIONS Identify policy implications of research findings in a
comprehensible way.
Recognise the difficult choices policy makers have to make.
Be clear on the key messages for policy makers and other key
stakeholders.
Need for ongoing dialogue - from design to dissemination.
Communicating research results to
policy makers CONCLUSIONS continued.....
Recognise the complexity of the policy process:‘…the
complex interplay between political interests, competing
discourse and the agency of multiple actors’.
Enhancing communications skills for researchers
Encourage the utilisation of research by policy practitioners
Devolution - opportunity for differentiated policy making
Professionalisation of policy making function
Potential for collaborative approaches
Dissemination of research results
Engagement of specialist staff in policy process
Utility of Research programmes
Contribution to ‘joined up’ thinking
Sustainable development agenda
Improving the links between research and policy