The impact of academic research in the policy making process. - LSE conference on the Impact of Academic Research: 13 th

1. The impact of academic research in the policy making process.- LSE conference on the Impact of Academic Research: 13th June 2011 This presentation reflects the views of the author/presenter and does not represent Departmental or Government policy.

2. Points covered in this presentation • How evidence and analysis is used in the policy making process. • Types of academic activities that have informed policy making. • 3. Working together to increase impact and value for money from our evidence and analysis.

3. The Policy Making Process (PMP) and the role of evidence and analysis Policy framework • Evidence and analysis is required to: • fully understand the policy problem and the wider Social Technical Economic Environmental Political context; • help identify the most effective, efficient policy option/s to achieve the best public policy benefits/outcomes; • spot and understand future challenges and opportunities to support the next wave of policy making; • demonstrate the impacts from policies and programmes of work; and • share lessons on what works best with others. Where evidence and analysis feeds into the PMP This means drawing upon a wide range of sources of evidence and analysis: including academics, but also commercial research providers; think-tanks; experts, charities as well as in-house analysts too.

4. The types of academic activities that have informed the policy making process • DCLG is an extensive user of academic research, analysis and thinking… • New primary research to explain/understand a policy topic – including scoping research. • Secondary analysis of quantitative data [e.g. survey data; management information data; statistical data]. • Systematic reviews of existing evidence [research papers; published reports; grey literature]. • Modelling [economic/ statistical]. • Technical/ scientific research to inform regulation and guidance. • Think pieces/ position papers on emerging issues to shape new policies. • Peer reviews of research commissions. • Dissemination and discussion of existing knowledge through presentations, roundtable discussions; seminars and workshops.

5. A small snapshot of recent examples of academic collaboration with policy impact • We have, in partnership, with the ESRC sponsored research fellowships to provide original secondary analysis of data to help identify how to achieve greater value for money in local authority services and to better understand the implications of migration patterns for local social cohesion. • The synthesis of academic research and analysis has fed directly into the policy development on decentralisation and Localism. • In partnership with other Departments we have contributed along with the ESRC to fund the Spatial Economics Research Centre at the London School of Economics and the analysis from the Centre has fed directly into our policies on economic regeneration; the Local Enterprise Partnerships and new Growth White Paper.

6. Possible Challenges Some of the common barriers to having greater impact include: Working to different objectives - e.g. Academics need to meet the Research Excellence Framework (REF) criteria while officials are focused on accessing the latest/best evidence to improve public policy impacts. Policy context is constantly changing and evolving… this can make it difficult to produce timely, relevant research outputs. Outputs are not tailored for use in policy making – e.g not readily applicable to the policy making process (e.g. too theoretical in nature). Working together to increase impact and value for money from our evidence and analysis

7. Potential Opportunities More scope to increase impact of evidence and analysis through: Sharing new evidence with analysts/officials on the policies. Compiling co-ordinated updates about new research to professional bodies like GESR/ GSS. Getting involved in activities/ programmes run by Research Councils as part of their Concordats with other Departments. Including current policy priorities in your academic programme/ curriculum – e.g. Decentralisation and Localism to build capacity and knowledge. Better dissemination – events to share knowledge such as policy picnics in the Department. Sharing your new ideas/concepts/ approaches with us as well as your primary research. Sharing knowledge on ‘what works well’ and ‘how we can do better and more’ with reduced resources. Working together to increase impact and value for money from our evidence and analysis cont/d…