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The Series• Effective Research for Development
Policy: How researchers can maximize their influence on policy.
• Evidence and the Policy Making Process: How do policy makers access research, what constitutes evidence.
• Action Research for Maximum Impact: Some "good news" case studies, and practical research tools for practitioners.
This Workshop• Exercise: Food in primary schools
• Drivers of change
• Policy development trajectory
• Evidence and analysis
• What policymakers want
• The role of analysts
• EBPM in practice
• Further information
Exercise: Food in Primary Schools
Drivers of change• Increasing emphasis on the quality of
evidence and its use (Modernising Government);
• To underpin & inform strategy, policy, regulatory work, foresight; and to mitigate risk;
• Importance of challenge to evidence (BSE inquiry, Science Advisory Committees)
• Depth and breadth of future evidence needs will increase given complex and overlapping strategic priorities
• Smaller policy core (efficiency drive in the public sector)
• Getting rid of the ‘generalist/specialist’ label
• Improving intelligent customer capability
• Future evidence needs, when set against strategic priorities, are complex & overlapping. How do we deal with ‘sustainability’?
Policy development trajectory
…any robust information that helps to turn a Department’s strategic priorities into something concrete, manageable and achievable.
The nature of the evidence you need is proportional to the nature of the risk associated with the decision that is being made.
Evidence for policy is…
Evidence is:
Facts (data, known trends), judgements, opinions, analyses, syntheses, arguments, costings, reviews, qualitative & quantitative survey data
Analysis is:
Lines of argument (strategy-policy), research, interpretation
What is evidence and analysis?
…but the evidence base is built upon
• Data
• Lines of argument (analysis)
• Stakeholder opinions
Decision makers like numbers…
Evidence-based policy making is not a sacred cow:
There are policies that:
Use good information… …and use it well…
…and use it poorly…Use poor information…
Analysis & evidence for policy
Procuring, managing and carrying out research to provide new evidence
Scoping the issue, asking the question, deciding what sort of evidence is needed
Interpreting & applying new or existing evidence, monitoring & evaluating the policy once implemented
Evidence and analysis needed rapidly to answer pressing policy questions
Longer-term policy and strategy development
Components of robust evidence & analysis (supply side)
• Is the evidence credible?
• Can we make generalisations from it?
• Is it reliable enough for M&E or impact assessments?
• Is it objective? How do we account for bias?
• Is it rooted in an understanding of the framing assumptions?
Components of robust evidence & analysis (demand side)• Is the evidence policy relevant?
• Is it timely? Has it been delivered fast enough to inform policy decisions?
• Is it accessible to all key stakeholders, not just researchers?
• Is the evidence cost-effective?
• Is it interdisciplinary enough to address cross-cutting issues?
Scoping the issue, asking the question, deciding what sort of evidence is needed
Procuring, managing and carrying out new
research
Interpreting & applying new or existing evidence, monitoring & evaluating the policy once implemented
Quality assessment, peer review, advisory councils, G2000
Negotiate how to apply the evidence; consultancy role
Negotiate the question, advise on alternative sources of evidence
The role of analysts… …is to provide appropriate evidence & analysis throughout the policy making process
• A smaller policy core won’t have time to do the integration
• Intelligent customers need intelligent suppliers
• Multiple tools: social, economic, modelling, scientific, technical, institutional analysis…
• Help policy makers lift their eyes from their desks to see what is possible
but
• Help them maintain their focus on the deliverable.
The role of analysts
• Defra’s Evidence & Innovation Strategy:
• Matching supply-side and demand-side criteria
• Based on the question ‘does it make good policy?’ rather than ‘is it good science?’
• Develop a clear line of sight between policy priorities and evidence provision – for efficient delivery
• Analyse in relation to the policy cycle – evidence needs change from strategy through to delivery
• Need a better understanding of innovation
EBPM in practice
• the need to answer policy’s immediate questions…(with robust & cost-efficient evidence)
• while developing their role…(as people who understand policy processes)
• to underpin broader & more strategic approaches to policy (involving other evidence providers, particularly other disciplines)
How can analysts balance…
Selected Bibliography• Shaxson, L.J. (2005) “Is your evidence robust
enough? Questions for policy makers and practitioners”. Journal of Evidence & Policy 1(1): 101-111. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/tpp/ep/2005/00000001/00000001/art00006
• Evidence-based policy making: guidance for policy makers. Available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/science/how/evidence.htm
• Jones, K.E. (2005) Understanding risk in everyday policy making. Defra: UK. Available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/risk/policymaking0509.pdf
• Defra (2005) Evidence & Innovation Strategy 2005–2008 (Part 1: Aims of the consultation / introduction). Available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/science/how/documents/PDFs%20in%20Parts/Part%20I.pdf
RAPID Stuff• ODI Working Papers
• Bridging Research and Policy Book
• Meeting series Monograph
• RAPID Briefing Paper
• Tools for Policy Impact
• Communication Tools
• Policymaker Tools
• RAPID CDROM
• www.odi.org.uk/rapid
