How to Advance Research to Policy Timothy D. McBride Professor Washington University

How to Advance Research to Policy

Timothy D. McBrideProfessor

Washington University

Policy in the knowledge transfer process

The Culture Clash between Researchers and Policymakers

What is the Problem?

Strategies for Overcoming the Problem

Services the HEPAC can provide

Bridging Research to Policy in Diabetes Research:

Dissemination Strategies

Policy translation and dissemination in Knowledge transfer process

In Knowledge translation process, what are the best methods for translating and delivering evidence-based research to policy? Through guidelines (T2) to improve population health (T4)?

Components of Policy Analysis

Problem Analysis

SolutionAnalysis

ConclusionsOr

Recommendations

InformationGathering

The Policy Process

The Problem

The Politics

PolicyAlternatives

Evidence-Based Information& Analysis

John Kingdon, 1995, “Agendas, Alternatives and Public Policies,” New York: Harper Collins.

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy."

-- Ernest Benn

Politics and Policy

A Problem with Knowledge Translation:Culture Clash Between Researchers and

Policymakers

Policy making is not always rational Rational decision making: research-based and largely

context free Sensible decision making: pragmatically driven and

dependent on institutional and political context Policy makers are influenced by factors other

than evidence based research e.g., budget, ideology, interest groups, other policy

makers

Policy making: two competing views

Source: Williams C. Director Office of Health Information, AHRQ. Presentation to 2000 Summer Institute for Professional Health Legislative Staff Development. UNC.

They take forever even to answer the simplest question(s). Then they are late with the results.

What is this stuff they write? Who can understand it?

They’re always hedging. I can’t get a straight answer.

They don’t answer the question I thought I asked.

They take little responsibility for the implications of their findings.

Policymakers Views of Researchers


They don’t ask researchable questions. They don’t accept uncertainty. They don’t accept that reducing

uncertainty costs more money. They don’t appreciate the influence of publish or perish on my life. They want unrealistic turn-around for results. They expect me to drop everything and delivery results for policy input. They want “bottom line” answers to take them off the policy hook. They can’t be trusted with my results—misinterpret/misuse my results.

Researchers Views of Policy Makers


Researchers need to understand the policy making process Need to design policy-relevant research and be aware of policy time

constraints Researchers need to disseminate research findings in language and

mediums that policy makers will understand Researchers can become directly involved in the policy making process

or can work with advocates

With this Culture Clash, How Can Researchers Affect Policy?

Source: McBride et al. 2008. “Bridging Health Research and Policy: Effective Dissemination Strategies,” Amer J of Public Health Management Practice 14(2).

Five strategies as crucial for researchers and funders to follow:1. Engage end users when framing research.2. Tailor the design of products to meet the needs of the

diversity of end users interested in health research.3. Make research products easily accessible to end users.4. Expand contact and working relationships with end users5. Invest in developing greater capacity for effective

dissemination.

Five Strategies


Establish a “research to policy network” composed of researchers and users

Develop “synthesis” products that summarize in an accessible, readable format what is known on a topic to identify needed additional research. Researchers and others should monitor policy developments

so that previously released research findings are communicated when they are relevant to current policy debates.

Engage end users when framing research


Provide findings to different types of policy makers

Use the media to communicate findings

Work with advocates to help disseminate research findings

Be willing to spend time meeting the needs of the policy makers Attend policy meetings, review laws, draft legislation, answer staff questions

or constituents concerns

Rapid response—special data runs

Spend time on strategic planning Anticipate: what will be the key issues: 6 months from now? One year ahead?

Ask your strategic partners all the time what are key questions?

Rapid Response and Dissemination


Effective dissemination efforts require dedicated resources to support specialized knowledge and skills The two uses, research and dissemination, must be additive Some efforts could be unfamiliar to researchers; for example, writing

effective press releases

Invest in developing greater capacity


The most effective means of disseminating research to policy users? Direct, interpersonal contact

Users must trust that the information they receive is reliable and credible Sustained and substantive communication engenders trust. Policy staff turnover demands researchers renew relationships

Natural interchanges may occur over issues initiated by researcher or staff, advocacy group Researchers earn the trust of policy makers when they

present accurate and evidence-based information, acknowledge data or information limitations, provide an objective and nonpartisan viewpoint, work diligently to be a recognized expert in their field, respond to staff requests in a timely fashion, and provide policy-relevant information specific to staff needs.

Expand contact and working relationships with end users


Different products for different stakeholder groups. Policy makers prefer short, user-friendly products

Policy briefs or summary fact sheets with key descriptive findings However, journal articles remain important reinforcing the

credibility of the research. Use Policy briefs or other dissemination products

Briefs, briefings Website, webinars

Tailor the design of products


Structure of Policy Briefs

Communicate findings in easy to read brief reports and articles. For legislators: Be concise: Communications with legislators must be short

(generally not more than 1-2 pages). Use lay language; no jargon or scientific terms. Use graphics and human stories (if possible). Explain how research will affect local constituents Not the same as a “mini” journal article

Organization Well-written titles that reflect key “takeaways” Strategic visuals: simple and clear

graphs/charts, presented in color Avoid superfluous pictures. Information on local areas (all politics is “local”) Key findings and a conclusion Contact information

Users need research results in seconds or minutes, not hours or days. Multiple communication channels are needed to reach various audiences,

including policy makers, associations, advocacy groups, and media. Traditional communication vehicles for research findings, including conference

presentations and peer-reviewed publications, are not the primary information source for policymakers. Alternatively, they prefer report that electronic and verbal communications and web

sites Web sites should be professionally designed, have search capabilities, connect to all

other research centers, and be tested for usability and usefulness Virtually all research products produced in paper form should be electronically

available.

Make research products easily accessible to end users


Reminder: What Can the Health Economics and Policy Analysis Core

(HEPAC) do for Diabetes Researchers?Timothy McBride, Director

Michael Sherraden, co-DirectorByron Yount

HEPAC Objectives

Develop understanding of common conceptual policy and economic models and methods, and their use in in diabetes translation research;

Increase familiarity with cutting-edge policy analytic techniques for their application to type II translation;

Increase familiarity and use of available economic and policy-relevant databases for the translation of research to policy and practice;

Develop an understanding of the steps in the policy assessment process and its impact on type II translational research;

Increase familiarity with, and the application of, cost-effectiveness analysis in diabetes translation studies.

HEPAC Services Provided

Economic and Policy Design Methods Policy analysis techniques, conceptual approaches and research methods

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Assistance in methods for analyzing costs of diabetes interventions and

reporting this analysis

Diabetes Policy Data Archive Assistance on use of data potentially relevant to diabetes policy research (e.g.,

BRFSS, CPS, SIPP, MEPS) Catalogues of datasets, questions, codebooks, measures, methods

Policy Assessment Toolkit Archive of diabetes policies; toolkit for evaluating content of diabetes-related

policies Policy evaluation measures across multiple environments (e.g., community,

worksite, school)

Weimer and Vining (2010) compare policy analysis to five other paradigms in Figure 1.1:

Journalism

Academic social science research

Classical planning

Policy research

The “old” public administration

Policy Analysis Compared to Five Other Paradigms

Policy Analysis Compared to Five Other Paradigms

Problem analysis What is the problem? Understanding the problem Goals and constraints

Solution analysis Policy alternatives Evaluation and analysis

Conclusions and recommendations? [Note: this is just one framework I favor. Other frameworks

possible…]

Basic Components of a Policy Analysis

Documents

How to Advance Research to Policy Timothy D. McBride Professor Washington University