1. KT-EQUAL/ CARDI Workshop: ‘Lost in Translation’ 23 June 2011 Communicating research results to policy makers: A practitioner’s perspective.

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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)

5.  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)

6. 2. The Policy Cycle

7. The Policy Cycle Political Mandate Policy EvaluationPolicy Development Policy Maintenance Policy Implementation

8. The Policy Cycle - Contested Space Stakeholders: statutory agencies, NGOs, community, business & other interests Policy Evaluation Political Mandate Policy Maintenance Policy Development Policy Implementation

9. Experience & Expertise Judgement Pragmatics & Contingencies Resources Lobbyists & Pressure Groups EVIDENCE Habits & Traditions Values Factors Influencing Policy Making in Government (Davies 2004)

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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

18.  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

19. A Policymakers view of issues

20. policylink www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/policylink