When University Researchers Connect with Policy: A Framework for Whether, When, and How to Engage

Abstract

Universities are renowned for their tradition of producing research that benefits millions of people. When it comes to policymaking, university research is considered more trustworthy than other sources, yet it simultaneously is widely perceived as playing too small a role in public policy decisions. In this article, we consider the engagement of university‐based researchers with policymakers and the policy process. As a guide for researchers, we propose a framework that includes three key decisions: whether, when, and how to engage in policymaking. We also apply Boyer's model of engaged scholarship to policymaking, reviewing what research studies and policymakers say about each domain. The domains are illustrated with case examples in which researchers successfully influenced public policy using ethnography, applied policy research, meta‐analysis, benefit–cost analyses, program evaluation, and policy forums. We discuss applications of our three key decisions and draw implications for researchers interested in building research‐based, family‐focused public policy.

State Child Welfare Policies and the Measurement of Child Maltreatment in the United States

“…For instance, when policy makers and practitioners need to examine trends in maltreatment in their jurisdictions, their estimations will be more accurate if they can tease apart variation caused by changes to state child welfare policies and practices versus actual changes in maltreatment incidence in their communities. Similarly, state policymakers considering changes to various policies or procedures relevant to child welfare (e.g., centralized intake, DR, standards of proof) could use estimates like the ones in this paper to understand the likely impact on the number of reports and substantiations in their state by looking to states that have enacted similar changes in the past (Day et al, 2019).…”

Shifting the paradigm of research-to-policy impact: Infrastructure for improving researcher engagement and collective action

“…The honest brokerage concept also differentiates outreach strategies by envisioning a politically neutral, educational, and advisory role rather than a role of lobbying (i.e., opposing or supporting specific legislation) or political activism (e.g., applying pressure to advance a political agenda). Policy skills or "know how" (Day et al, 2019) also play a role in the effectiveness of researchers' policy efforts, especially skills that mitigate "clashes" between communities by reducing miscommunication and mistrust (Bogenschneider et al, 2013;Brownson et al, 2006;Scott et al, 2019).…”

“…These barriers include high institutional demands on their time, limited reward recognizing policy work, minimal resources or compensation for policy tasks, and few opportunities to access policy spaces or train on how to navigate those spaces (Kim et al, 2023). Limited reward, time restraints, limited training or navigational know-how are repeatedly mentioned in the literature as barriers to researchers' policy engagement (Bogenschneider et al, 2013;Day et al, 2019;Fisher-Borne et al, 2015;Gollust et al, 2017;Guillot-Wright & Oliver, 2023;Jones et al, 2009;Sisk et al, 2011). Moreover, there is a need for "boundary spanners" who connect producers and users of research since these tasks are not typically codified into academic job responsibilities or promotion and tenure (Bell & Lewis, 2023;Goodrich et al, 2020).…”

Research Worth Using: (Re)Framing Research Evidence Quality for Educational Policymaking and Practice

“…Numerous authors have emphasized the timeliness of research as a critical factor for influencing policy and practice (e.g., Lugo-Gil et al, 2019; Oliver & Cairney, 2019; Penuel, Briggs, et al, 2016). Policymaking process models often outline four distinct phases of formulation, adoption, implementation, and revision (Day et al, 2019), across which information needs differ. Policymakers and practitioners need evidence during policy development and program implementation to inform future decisions, not just evaluate past actions (O’Brien & Martinez-Vidal, 2016).…”