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PublicationsUsing Research to Inform Policy: the Role of Interpretation
PublicationsUsing Research to Inform Policy: the Role of Interpretation
Using Research to Inform Policy: the Role of Interpretation
| Title | Using Research to Inform Policy: the Role of Interpretation |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Year of Publication | 2007 |
| Authors | Clark R |
| Abstract | The Environment Research Funders’ Forum (ERFF) conducted a review and workshop to identify the barriers that prevent more effective use being made of research in 2005. This found interpretation to be a key area requiring further investigation. Interpretation is required so that staff in government departments and agencies can request and use information from research. It involves finding, processing and communicating information. Effective interpretation requires that staff in government departments and agencies communicate their needs in a way that can be understood by researchers (who work in research organisations) and intermediaries. Similarly, it requires that researchers and intermediaries communicate information from research in a way that can be understood by these staff. In government departments and agencies, interpretation is provided by ‘advisers’ who provide technical advice to policy people in their organisation, ‘policy people’ who develop or implement policy and regulations in a department or agency.
This study examines how interpretation is provided for government departments and agencies in ERFF when they request and use information from research and it recommends ways in which it could be improved. It draws on interviews and a workshop conducted mostly with staff from ERFF member organisations. The study was conducted by Rebecca Clark on behalf of ERFF and this report of the findings has been approved by ERFF’s Stakeholder Engagement Working Group. The study found that advisers, policy people, researchers, and intermediaries all play important roles in interpreting the needs of policy and information from research for government departments and agencies in ERFF. Advisers provide much of the interpretation done in the departments and agencies. To be effective in this role, advisers require specialist knowledge and analytical skills and they need to be able to work on a diversity of issues under considerable time pressure. To provide the information needed by policy people, advisers need to have quick and easy access to policy-relevant information, which they may obtain from written material or from other people. Advisers may also manage commissioned research, which is an important source of information for government departments and agencies. They also try to keep informed of new developments in research. Staff who are new to adviser posts would find it useful to have training in how to provide interpretation (currently they learn how to do this on the job) and to have advice from more experienced colleagues about how to fulfil the role and manage the stresses that go with it. |
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 20070302-interpret-study.pdf | 1.38 MB |