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Government Social Research Unit. HOW CAN RESEARCH CONTRIBUTE TO POLICY? SRA, IRELAND 13 JANUARY 2006 Sue Duncan Chief Government Social Researcher Cabinet Office. www.gsr.gov.uk. The Policy Iceberg. Public. Commissioned research and evaluation. Implementation Legislation
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Government Social Research Unit HOW CAN RESEARCH CONTRIBUTE TO POLICY? SRA, IRELAND 13 JANUARY 2006 Sue Duncan Chief Government Social Researcher Cabinet Office www.gsr.gov.uk
The Policy Iceberg Public Commissioned research and evaluation Implementation Legislation Policy Announcement Sea level Policy Idea Political research (opinion polling etc) Political Party Politics Manifesto commitments Elections No 10 priorities Cabinet/Ministerial Public Opinion Political careers Costing options Reviews of evidence Analysis of admin data Budgets/Resources Priorities Legal powers Operational issues Parliamentary timetables Human nature Practical
The Black Box of Policy Research Long, boring report Inconclusive results Irrelevant results Results too late Research expensive Political embarrassment ‘Wrong answer’ Research Activity ? Policy Question OR Research findings OR Regular feedback of results Policy question answered Research on time No last minute surprises Research useful and used
Inside the Black Box • Clarify research question • Check existing knowledge/re-analyse data • Check budget/procurement rules • Design research • Commission research • Field work • Data processing • Data analysis • Report writing • Research-based advice • Publication • Clarify research question • Check existing knowledge/re-analyse data • Check budget/procurement rules • Design research • Commission research • Field work • Data processing • Data analysis • Report writing • Research-based advice • Publication Policy Question
The Policy Research Relationship • Last minute research involvement • Unclear information requirements • Changing needs • Poor communication (mistrust) • Junior level discussion • Inflexible research • No ownership • Too busy BAD RESULT UNSATISFIED CUSTOMER • Early research involvement • Ongoing dialogue • Senior level discussion • Research flexibility • Policy ownership GOOD RESULT SATISFIED CUSTOMER
The Policy Iceberg Public Commissioned research and evaluation Implementation Legislation Policy Announcement Sea level Policy Idea Political research (opinion polling etc) Political Party Politics Manifesto commitments Elections No 10 priorities Cabinet/Ministerial Public Opinion Political careers Costing options Reviews of evidence Analysis of admin data Budgets/Resources Priorities Legal powers Operational issues Parliamentary timetables Human nature Practical
Understanding client groups Understanding problems/issues Monitoring progress Evaluating policy impacts Evaluating delivery Testing policy/delivery Key Uses
Inclusive policy making Performance measurement and delivery Joined up government Strategic thinking ‘What works is what counts’ Current Priorities
Instrumental Conceptual Leads directly to decision Leads to changes in knowledge, making for policy and practice understanding or attitude Mobilisation Wider Influence Used as instrument of persuasion Leads to larger scale shifts in to legitimise action/in action thinking (Nutley et al 2002)
… Government should regard policy making as a continuous, learning process, not as a series of one-off initiatives. We will improve our use of evidence and research so that we understand better the problems we are trying to address … (Modernising Government White Paper 1999)
… Good quality policy making depends on high quality information derived from a number of sources - expert knowledge; existing domestic and international research; existing statistics; stakeholder consultation; evaluation of previous policies, new research … (‘Professional Policy Making in the 21st Century’)
… there is nothing a government hates more than to be well informed; for it makes the process of arriving at decisions much more complicated and difficult … (J M Keynes) www.gsr.gov.uk
Research Experience Judgement Resources Values Public Opinion What is evidence?
… Social science should be at the heart of policy making. We need a revolution in relation between government and the social research community - we need social scientists to help determine what works and why, and what type of policy initiatives are likely to be most effective … (David Blunkett 2000) www.gsr.gov.uk
… I had hoped to find research to support or to conclusively oppose my belief that quality integrated education is the most promising approach. But I have found very little conclusive evidence. For every study, statistical or theoretical, that contains a proposed solution or recommendation, there is always another, equally well documented, challenging the assumption or conclusions of the first. No one seems to agree with anyone else’s approach. But more distressing no one seems to know what works. As a result I must confess, I stand with my colleagues confused and often disheartened... (Senator Walter Mondale, 1970) www.gsr.gov.uk
… There are significant problems with the exploitation of social science research in government, local government, commerce, the voluntary sector and the media. These come about because of ‘interface management’ and communication problems, though the caution of some academics towards close engagement with practitioners is a source of great disappointment to many users of social science research … (‘Great expectations: the social sciences in Britain’ March 2003) www.gsr.gov.uk