1. Policy Research and Practice Ratna M. Sudarshan ISST, New Delhi March 5-6 2009

2. The Scope of ‘Policy Research’ Evidence based analysis on questions of policy relevance Includes evaluations of programme outcomes Various forms of communicating findings other than academic publications – policy briefs, presentations, etc (wider scope than just ‘research’)

3. The environment of policy research Policy research organisations/ ‘think tanks’ University academics (some?) Private consulting firms/ Market research organisations Action based development research NGOs

4. Research influence Research can influence government policy Can also influence action ‘academic research speaks to a body of knowledge; activist research speaks to a structure of power’ (NJ) – how should ‘policy research’ be located?

5. Action based research Qualitative methods, capturing texture of local situation Emphasis on diversity and difference and hence need for locale specific interventions Is quality assured (short vs long cycle research; peer review and in the public domain; bias vs holding a position)

6. Questions looking forward Can action based research organisations make effective contributions to knowledge as well as to policy?  Role of funding  Research protocols  Research and policy networks