Research and policy have a complex, reciprocal relationship. Research informs policy decisions by providing evidence and insights, while policy shapes research agendas and influence how research is conducted and disseminated. Ideally, research may be used to highlight societal issues and assess potential solutions, thus guiding policy interventions. In this case, research provides policymaking with data/evidence, analysis, and insights to make informed policy decisions. It may also be used to evaluate the impact of existing policies and therefore inform adjustments to future policy. Ultimately, the relationship between research and policy is dynamic and multifaceted, but not without friction. While policymaking often calls for a strong connection between the two realms, researchers need to navigate several cliffs to be able to effectively communicate research for policy.
This masterclass offers an introduction to three of the crucial tasks in communicating research for policy: writing research in an accessible, clear way, and persuasive way; translating research results into policy messages without neglecting the specific (social) context(s) of research yet still amplifying results to inform policy decisions; finally, communicating effectively in different formats and for different contexts in the policy process.
- Lärare
Piia Åminne