Using Research in Policymaking

Abstract:
This fact sheet provides a clear, concise overview of strategies for using research to strengthen policymaking. It begins by listing benefits of research to board members, including such areas as identifying problems, comparing solutions, supporting or opposing a particular program or policy, justifying a decision, making incremental improvements, and making good decisions about strategies for teaching and learning. The fact sheet discusses challenges in determining whether research findings are sound and outlines characteristics of good policy research (including strengths in objectivity, study design, review, and plausibility). The fact sheet offers tips for presenting research findings in a user-friendly format and concludes with a section on commissioning research (noting the importance of consulting with technical experts). Overall, the fact sheet does a particularly good job of explaining complicated research issues in an easy-to-follow but not condescending way for people with various levels of experience in using research.

Publication: Boardsmanship Review


Date Published: 6/1/1998

Pages: 2

Location Code: 9135