KT-EQUAL/ CARDI Workshop:

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KT-EQUAL/ CARDI Workshop Lost in Translation
23 June 2011 Communicating research results
to policy makers A practitioners perspective.
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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
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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.
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10 Features of Good Policy Making (OFMDFM, 2003)
Joined up Learns lessons Communication Evalu
ation Review
Evidence-based Outward looking Innovative,
flexible creative Forward looking Inclusive

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The policy process (1)

• 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.

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2. The Policy Cycle
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The Policy Cycle
Political Mandate Policy Evaluation Policy
Development Policy Maintenance Policy
Implementation
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The Policy Cycle - Contested Space
Political Mandate
Policy Development
Policy Evaluation
Stakeholders statutory agencies, NGOs,
community, business other interests
Policy Implementation
Policy Maintenance
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Factors Influencing Policy Making in Government
(Davies 2004)
Experience Expertise
Pragmatics Contingencies
Judgement
EVIDENCE
Lobbyists Pressure Groups
Resources
Habits Traditions
Values
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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

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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

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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 ESRC
• Community newsletters / Alumni news / www.
• Think of How the research will be used and
  quoted.
• Early dissemination of research e.g. Working
  papers.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Communicating research results to policy makers

• CONCLUSIONS continued.....
• Recognise the complexity of the policy
  processthe 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

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Improving the links between research and policy

• 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

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A Policymakers view of issues
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policylink www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/policylink