Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think Tanks

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think Tanks

• Surveys, Focus Groups In-depth Interviews,
  Comparative Analysis, Budget Analysis, Scenario
  Planning
• Serghei Ostaf, www.CReDO.md, ostaf_at_credo.md

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think
TanksPresentation Objectives

• Share with experience of methods and approaches
• Give insight into various policy research
  methods
• Get feedback from peers

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think
TanksArea of Policy Research

• Policies requiring Government intervention
• Public goods
• Equity considerations of policies
• Substantive values of disadvantaged groups
• Related Efficiency considerations

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think
TanksPolicy Research Intent

• Awareness of general public
• Lobby for better public policies
• Provide substantiated alternative/improved
  policies

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think
TanksPresentation Outline

• Research Methods
• Surveys, In-depth interviews
• Comparative legal analysis
• Political actors options
• Budget analysis
• Institutional setting effectiveness analysis

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think
TanksIndented Audience

• International (democracy/CoE, EU, UN, OCSE)
  specialized bodies
• Decision-makers (legislative/executive)
• General public/media

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think
TanksSurveys, In-depth interviews

• Policy recipients selected representatives
  in-depth interviews
• Case study research
• Policy recipient or other surveys (SPS)

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think
TanksSurveys, In-depth interviews examples

• Policy research Assessment of the Public
  Authorities Capacity to Carry out Human Rights
  Sensitive Public Policies (18 central ministries,
  for the Government, UNDP)
• Policy Research Compact minorities of Bulgarians
  and Ukrainians language use in education, public
  sphere (15 regions, COE)

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think Tanks
Comparative legal analysis

• Formal legal comparison/incompatibilities (EU,
  COE, UN) against Moldovan law
• Jurisprudence analysis
• Internal consistency analysis
• Implementation effects on the target groups

• Arguments for alternative policy
• Specific recommendations for improvements

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think Tanks
Comparative legal analysis examples

• Policy Research Assessment of Bilateral
  Agreements concluded by Moldova from the point of
  view of the Minority Rights Protection (COE,
  Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• Policy Paper Assessment of the Opportunity to
  ratify the Optional Protocol to ICCPR
  (Government, UNDP)

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think Tanks
Political actors options

• Against the policy issue
• Interview political faction leadership
• Monitor political faction voting history
• Understand political faction electorate interests

• Assessment of political factions options and
  opportunity windows

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think Tanks
Political actors options examples

• Policy Paper Assessment of the Opportunity to
  ratify the Optional Protocol to ICCPR
  (Government, UNDP)

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think Tanks
Budget analysis

• Desegregation of budget allocations and spending
• Target group comparative benefits
• Analysis of budget priorities
• Efficiency of allocations use

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think Tanks
Budget analysis examples

• Policy Research Situation of Roma rural compact
  settlements (COE, Department of Interethnic
  Relations)
• Policy Research Independency of the Judiciary in
  Moldova (Committee of Ministers of COE, other)

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think Tanks
Institutional setting effectiveness

• Policy Implementation mix
• Implementation body ability
• Service format and accessibility
• Public vs. private (non-profit) choice

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think Tanks
Institutional setting effectiveness examples

• Policy Research Effectiveness and Institutional
  Capacity of the Ombudsman Office to Initiate and
  Implement Human Rights Policies (UNDP, COE)
• Policy Research Institutional Capacity of the
  Department of Interethnic Relations (COE)

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think Tanks
Scenario Planning Analysis

• Optimistic developments scenario
• Pessimistic developments scenario

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think Tanks
Scenario Planning Analysis examples

• Policy Paper Assessment of the Opportunity to
  ratify the Optional Protocol to ICCPR
  (Government, UNDP)

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Research Methods of Policy Advocacy Think Tanks
Conclusions

• Research methods depend on the policy issue
• Several research methods used to provide
  substantive argumentation
• Policy papers accessible to targeted
  decision-makers and provide concrete/real policy
  alternatives
• Research reports complementary and usually
  precede or provide basis for the Policy papers