Improving the Influence of Evidence in Policy Creation: An Ethnographic Study of the Research-to-Policy Collaborative

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gulliot-Wright S ; Oliver K
• Description:
  Background: Despite the known need for empirical research-to-policy studies, little is known about the factors and conditions needed to support meaningful evidence use or how to intervene to promote quality evidence use. Aims and objectives: To study research-policy processes empirically and descriptively, we conducted an ethnography that focused on the impact of the Research-to-Policy Collaboration (RPC) on legislator and researcher evidence use or policy engagement, including whether and how researchers and policymakers created and sustained meaningful relationships. Methods: The ethnography included participant observation as well as pre- and post- semi-structured interviews from policymakers (n=17), researchers (n=23), and RPC staff (n=5). The team attended relevant events as well as observed the formal and informal ways research is used in policymaking. Findings: In the paper, we describe how 1) legislative priorities were identified; 2) networks were established and maintained; 3) trainings evolved over time; 4) relationships between RPC staff, congressional staff, and researchers were facilitated; and 5) RPC followed up with policymakers and researchers. Discussion and conclusions: We 1) describe the experiences of participants and whether involvement in the intervention changed attitudes or behaviours about evidence use in policy; 2) describe the RPC process in practice, and how it was implemented and evolved over time; and 3) better understand the conditions supporting evidence use in policymaking. We conclude with the value of the RPC as a resource to fill a niche within the evidence and policy space, as well as suggestions for future research-to-policy programmes and practices. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Use Of Research Evidence Ethnography Evidence-informed Policymaking Intervention Effectiveness Legislation Policy Regulatory Activities Systems Change
• ISSN:
  1744-2648
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 6 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  58-73
• Volume:
  19
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20069950
• Citation:
  Evid Policy 2023 Feb; 19(1):58-73
• Email:
  spguillo@utmb.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20210901
• Source Full Name:
  Evidence & Policy
• End Date:
  20240831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d1a8d82cc0770a35a06d3ab1c738f0ba9fa62692c2eaa1a211113e7674684d22115f00ec3904afd3642045f2c36e60fc8c1d21f9e6e54e78352daaee7108b608
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208268/cdc_208268_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 268.74 KB ]