Transcript Document

How/When does Research Influence
Policy?
Duncan Green, Oxfam
March 2014
AND REMEMBER,
USUALLY IT DOESN’T......
Start with the right questions
1.
What are we trying to achieve?
2.
Who are we trying to influence with evidence?
3.
What’s already known? What more is needed?
4.
What kind of research will be most effective?
5.
How should we engage our targets for best
effect?
NOT
6.
I’ve done my research, now how do I get people
to listen to my findings?
Timing matters (and shapes
research): The Policy Funnel
General
Opinion
Public
Debate
Policy
Process
Final
Decision
Room for manoeuvre falls, relative
importance of internal players increases
Concepts
/agenda
setting
Questions
/Framing
/instrume
nts
Media and narrative,
bearing witness;
Messengers not just
message
Solutions/
Problems
$/ text
What
Coalition?
Power
Analysis;
PDIA
Comparative;
implementation
gaps
More on Timing (it really does matter)

Enter debates early (agenda setting
rather than negotiating final details)
– Climate change adaptation big numbers


Plan around the political timetable
Shocks = Crucial Windows of
Opportunity (but a challenge for
researchers)
– Robin Hood Tax
– Climate Change and shocks
Who are we trying to influence with evidence?
Target
Evidence they respond to best
Policymakers
Big ideas. Compelling stories. Positive
visions.
Civil servants
Objective, rigorous,
Credible methodology.
Data. Technical details.
Corporate executives
Company-specific findings. Credible
methodology.
Communities
Community-focused.
Generated with their participation.
Activists,
Public attitudes and beliefs
Human face to the story.
Killer facts – easy to remember
Clear impacts of policy
Media
Controversial, new.
Human face to the story
Killer facts with numbers.
What’s Already Known? (aka ‘do a
quick literature review’) – Focus!
What do we want to know? Beware
‘just add it to the terms of reference’
syndrome. Focus some more!
What is effective for shaping debates?
Introducing ‘killer facts’
How to engage targets?

BEFORE the research is published
– Governance
– Interviews and consultation
– Review drafts



Who do they respect/listen to? Research
partners and messengers as important
as message
Narratives not data
They want things to do, not more to read
How to disseminate your findings?




Publish drafts and ask for comments
Use knowledge intermediaries (esp if
you’re no good at talking to normal
people)
Blogs, 2 page (not 10 page) summaries,
and op-eds, not long papers
Multi media (infographics, videos, social
media) all helps (but decision makers
still don’t use it)
How not to engage targets




Show off your knowledge
Say/imply ‘everything is incredibly
complex and context specific, so I spit
on you and your generalizations’
Post modern plays on words (an IDS
speciality)
‘Needs more Research’ tourette’s
Any Questions?
Further Reading on From Poverty to
Power





Knowledge to Policy (IDRC) book review
Knowledge, Policy and Power in
International Development (ODI) Book
Review
How can research funders work better
with INGOs? post
Dos and Don’ts on Research -> policy
post
What does the White House want from
researchers? post