DESIGNING RESEARCH TO INFLUENCE POLICY: [PART I] BY LORNE FOSTER YORK UNIVERSITY

Research And Public Policy Outline 1. Locating Academic Research in the Design of Good Public Policy 2. Putting Ideas to Practice  Holistic approach to the policy canvas.  Collaboration as a mechanism for solving problems. 3. Enhancing Research-Action Linkages  Policy entrepreneurship  Aggressive Lorne Foster2

DEFINITIONS Public Policy – “is what ever governments choose to do or not to do” (Dye, 1978: 3). Public Policy – “is what ever governments choose to do or not to do” (Dye, 1978: 3).or Public Policy –“is a course of action or inaction chosen by public authorities to address a given problem or interrelated set of problems (Pal, 1992: 2). Public Policy –“is a course of action or inaction chosen by public authorities to address a given problem or interrelated set of problems (Pal, 1992: 2). Public Policy Analysis – is the study of agenda-setting (how issues come to receive attention, and which are excluded from public discussion – analytic reflection on the holistic landscape of systems, processes & relationships). Public Policy Analysis – is the study of agenda-setting (how issues come to receive attention, and which are excluded from public discussion – analytic reflection on the holistic landscape of systems, processes & relationships).  Dye, Thomas Understanding Public Policy. Englewood cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall  Pal, Leslie A, Public Policy Analysis: An Introduction. Scarborough, ON: Nelson Lorne Foster3

Public Policy Process Public policies emerges from a democratic tradition – they are the embodiment of political agendas, ideologies, stakeholder interests, public opinion, personals determination, and structural and financial constraints – awareness of these factors for researchers is integral to public policy influence. The premise of policy studies/ analysis is – if researchers know how public policy priorities are set, they can have a better chance of intervening in the Lorne Foster4

The Policy Lorne Foster5

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Considering The Policy-Making System Today As Carol Weiss notes, ‘‘instead of concentrating solely on the effect of research on individuals in policy-making positions  [policy studies] have begun to take the policy-making system as their canvas’’ (Weiss 2003: 5). As Carol Weiss notes, ‘‘instead of concentrating solely on the effect of research on individuals in policy-making positions  [policy studies] have begun to take the policy-making system as their canvas’’ (Weiss 2003: 5). What does this mean? Two things for the ‘process’ and ‘structure’ of research: What does this mean? Two things for the ‘process’ and ‘structure’ of research: 1)Research is one actor in the public policy-making process. 2)Build stakeholder considerations into your research [i.e., collaborative knowledge building Lorne Foster7

Health Research System: Tobacco Politics In the 1980s organizations lead by the Non-Smokers’ Rights Association (NSRA) started bringing forward ‘tax submissions’ and meeting with decision makers – they began to understand the relation between prices and consumption and pressed for greater increased tobacco taxes – some revenues raised were used to help displaced farmers – domestic sales dropped 40% between 1982 and Social Determinants Of Health Approach 2. Community-Based Interventions Lorne Foster8

“Holistic Turn” In Public Policy Development 1. Health issues often extends to policy areas outside of health policy – economics, culture, environmental – socioeconomic indices [e.g., the ‘social determinants of health’ approach, and community-based interventions]. 2. Connection to others – collaborative engagement – democratic deliberation and citizenship. 3. Holistic turn – seeing horizontal issues and developing horizontal Lorne Foster9

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Policy Space Trends Central To Modern Epistemic Practice The horizontal-issues-and-connection lens implies the authority of a more ‘collaborative market-based knowledge’ model for policy space. The horizontal-issues-and-connection lens implies the authority of a more ‘collaborative market-based knowledge’ model for policy space. Collaborative knowledge management [in terms of the creation, exchange, and transformation of knowledge]. Collaborative knowledge management [in terms of the creation, exchange, and transformation of knowledge]. Collaborative and out-put focused [service definitions and measures]. Collaborative and out-put focused [service definitions and measures]. Cross-sector solutions to complex problems. Cross-sector solutions to complex problems. Relationships and networks [as opposed to concentrating solely on the effect of research on individuals in policy-making positions’’]. Relationships and networks [as opposed to concentrating solely on the effect of research on individuals in policy-making Lorne Foster11

Five Lessons Helping Researchers Become Policy Entrepreneurs A policy entrepreneur is an individual who exploits an opportunity to influence policy outcomes, and understands: 1. Policy processes are complex and rarely linear or logical. 2. Many policy processes are only weakly informed by research-based evidence. 3. The need for a holistic understanding of the context in which they are working [social contexts of issues and solution]. 4. The need for a clear intent [building multidisciplinary teams]. 5. The careful combination of pilot field-level projects, institutional research and proactive Lorne Foster12

What Would A Holistic And Entrepreneurial Approach Look Like? Recognizing academic-based research is only one type of evidence that informs government decision-making Recognizing academic-based research is only one type of evidence that informs government decision-making Early and ongoing involvement of decision-makers Early and ongoing involvement of decision-makers Build the desired outcome into the research design Build the desired outcome into the research design Recognize research and decision-making linkages are less of a product or event, but are on-going social processes. Recognize research and decision-making linkages are less of a product or event, but are on-going social processes. Partnering competency – ‘relational contracting’ competencies Partnering competency – ‘relational contracting’ competencies Community engagement Community engagement Facilitate collaborative research Facilitate collaborative research Knowledge mobilization [Knowledge transfer] Knowledge mobilization [Knowledge transfer] User-oriented program evaluation approach User-oriented program evaluation approach Knowledge brokers should be the prime focus for km and kt activities by academics and community researchers. Knowledge brokers should be the prime focus for km and kt activities by academics and community researchers. Multi-formatted public communication Multi-formatted public Lorne Foster13

Conclusions Research has to be focused on a holistic or broad view of the policy canvas, seeing the horizontal issues and developing horizontal connections. Research has to be focused on a holistic or broad view of the policy canvas, seeing the horizontal issues and developing horizontal connections. I. Research-use strategy – make research formulation relevant to stakeholders. II. Stakeholder consultation – linkage with those most directly affected. III. Knowledge mobilization – build stakeholder’s considerations into your research. IV. Outcome-strategies – to translate research into policy and practice. V. Research accessibility – in multiple Lorne Foster14