Transcript In Search of Original Thinking

Knowledge and
Effectiveness:
Myths and Models for Research
HSE Conference on Development Effectiveness
Nick Perkins
Head of Research Communication
Environmental trends...
Concerns with impact
Media convergence & audience distraction
Democracy in communication
Green movement & the development industry

The tree in the forest…
• Launch conference in 1966
• Pearson Report & Williamsburg
Declaration 1969
• ‘Ode to the seasons conference’ 1978
Think long game
Think value for money
st
1
Reflection
There is more than one model for
understanding the relationship
between policy & research
Dominant Models of influencing
policy
• Information
• Evidence based
• Value led
• Dialogical
Implications for sector
• Diffusion model (need
broader repositories)
• Policy entrepreneurship
(need systematic reviews)
• Discourse analysis (need
epistemic communities )
• Relational view of aid (need
participatory
communication approaches)
2nd Reflection
Be clear what you stand for
The Story of Study Seminar 15
3rd Reflection
‘Mediation’
is a crucial part of research
uptake - Think of your ‘policy
spheres’
Dominant Models of influencing
policy
• Information
• Evidence based
• Value led
• Dialogical
Implications for mediation
• Information capability
(demand stimulation)
• Policy framing (scoping and
matching to ‘venues’)
•
Elements of advocacy
(consensus-building)
• Reflexivity (self-mediation)