Bridging the research-policy gap

How PAR can create greater capacity for

policy-making, uptake and utilization of

academics — policy makers research

Joint Research Corporation

BP3IPTEK WEST JAVA — FLINDERS UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

GOVERNOR OF WEST JAVA PROVINCE AND GOVERNOR OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Dr Riswanda

Public Policy Analyst

Department of Public Administration

Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University

Overview

• The problem

• Challenges

• Addressing challenges in linking research to policy and

practice (bridging ‘the gap between researchers and

policy makers)

• Innovators at the country level in linking research to

policy and practice

• Participatory Action Research

• Thinking about the future2

• Just too much of it and not always what you need

• Multiple parallel demands

• Information goes up and never comes down

• Key consumers of information not being served:

– Policy makers

– Public Sector Managers Managers

– Service Providers

– General public

The Changing Global Environment

Drowning in data!

The Problem- Know-Do Gap

The Changing Global Environment

Bridging the know-do gap…

Why Research is not used?

• The divide between researchers and policy makers

• Research results are not presented in a user friendly form

(comprehensible and credible) for the potential users.

• Results are not available in a timely manner

• Failure or inadequate dissemination (to whom and through which

channels?)

• What criteria are used to adopt new intervention (resulting from

research).

• How should an intervention be evaluated during implementation

Challenges in Linking Research to Policy1. Research competes with many

other factors in the policymaking process and research isn’t valued as an information input [General climate for research use]

2. Research evidence isn’t relevant [Production]

3. Research evidence isn’t easy to use [Translation]

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Challenges

• Many proven interventions (cheap and cost effective) remain inaccessible.

- And do not reach those who need them most.

- Are hardly used at all

- Widespread implementation may take years or decades

Efforts to Bridge the Know-Do-Gap

• Research-policy initiative

• Supporting use of research

evidence or policy in Jawa

Barat governmental systems

• Participatory Action Research

The Value of PARPAR is more of an approach than a method of inquiry.

It [PAR] is about jointly producing knowledge with others to produce criticalinterpretations and readings of the world, which are accessible,understandable to all those involved and actionable. (Paul Chatterton,Duncan Fuller & Paul Routledge, 2007)

What this research tradition provides is a shared commitment tofundamentally disrupt conventional hierarchies of knowledge production:who decides on the questions to ask, how to ask them, and how to theorisethe world.

Liberatory – PAR seeks to ‘liberate’ participants to have a greaterawareness of their situation in order to take action, although for someresearchers the emphasis on liberation will be tempered;

PAR is not just another method – more an orientation to inquiry – this meansthat many different methods are possible (quantitative and qualitative);

Focus on change

a focus on change – commitment

to participate with people to

improve and understand the

world by changing it (McIntyre-

Mills 2008) although there are

differences between researchers

as to the scale of that change and

the degree to which it is focused

on promoting democracy and

reducing inequality;

context-specific

• context-specific – it is generally

targeted around the needs of a

particular group although this

can vary in size from small teams

to projects encompassing entire

communities;

emphasis on collaboration

• emphasis on collaboration –

researchers and participants

working together to examine

a problematic situation or

action to change it for the

better, although there are

differences in opinion as to

how much collaboration is

possible or necessary;

a cyclical process

• a cyclical process – an iterative cycle of

research, action and reflection (Kindon et al,

2006) underpins the research process although

it is not always clear how this happens in

practice; participants are competent and

reflexive and capable of participating in the

entire research process although researchers

may adopt different standards as to the level of

participation that ‘qualifies’ as PAR;

knowledge is generated through participants’

collective efforts and actions;

Liberatory

• Liberatory – PAR seeks to

‘liberate’ participants to have a

greater awareness of their

situation in order to take

action, although for some

researchers the emphasis on

liberation will be tempered;

Evidence briefs

Systematic reviews of research

Individual studies, articles and reports

Basic, theoretical and methodological innovations

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Addressing the Challenge

PAR Addressing Challenge

– Policymakers lack forums where challenges can be discussed with

stakeholders and researchers

• One option (among many) for addressing challenge

– Plan deliberative dialogues at which PAR serve as the starting point

for off-the-record deliberations involving policymakers, stakeholders

(including citizens), researchers and others

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References

• Chatterton, P., Fuller, D., & Routledge, P. (2007). Relating action to activism: Theoretical and methodological reflections. In S. Kindon, R. Pain, & Kesby, M.

(2007). Participatory action research approaches and methods: connecting people, participation and place. Routledge studies in human geography, 22. London:

Routledge.

• Cornwall, A., & Jewkes, R. (1995). What is participatory research? Social Science & Medicine, 41(12): 1667-1676. Post on this paper.

• Greenwood, D. J., Whyte, W. F., & Harkavy, I. (1993). Participatory Action Research as a Process and as a Goal. Human Relations, 46 (2), 175.

• James, A. (2008). Participatory Action Research Video Presentation.

• Kindon, S. L., Pain, R., & Kesby, M. (2007). Participatory action research approaches and methods: connecting people, participation and place. Routledge

studies in human geography, 22. London: Routledge.

• McIntyre, A. (2008). Participatory action research. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

• McTaggart, R. (1989) 16 Tenets of Participatory Action Research

• Geraldine Pratt in collaboration with the Philippine Women Centre of BC and Ugnayan Kabataany Pilipino sa Canada/Filipino- Canadian Youth Alliance,

(2007). Working with migrant communities: collaborating with the Kalayaan Centre in Vancouver, Canada. In S. Kindon, R. Pain, & Kesby, M. (2007).

Participatory action research approaches and methods: connecting people, participation and place. Routledge studies in human geography, 22. London:

Routledge.

• Reason, P., & Bradbury, H. (2001). Handbook of action research: participative inquiry and practice. London: SAGE.

• Swantz, M. 1996. A personal position paper on participatory research: Personal quest for living knowledge. Qualitative Inquiry, 2(1): 120-136. Post on this

paper.

• Wadsworth, Y. (1998). What is Participatory Action Research? Action Research International, Paper 2. Post on this Paper