Evidence-informed policy advice: A framework

Lomas, J. & Brown, A. (2009). Research and advice giving: A functional view of evidence-informed policy advice in a Canadian ministry of health. The Milbank Quarterly, 87(4), 903-926.

Description

This method examines how civil servants use research to inform policy within three identified spheres of policy activity. Based on interviews with civil servants in the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Research and Advice Giving: A Functional View of Evidence-Informed Policy Advice in a Canadian Ministry of Health examines how research evidence is used to set policy agendas, develop new policies and monitor or modify existing policies.

This method examines:

  • how civil servants use research to inform policy
  • models of research use in policy
  • a framework for functional use of research in policy

This framework for research use in policy states that the functional relationship between civil servants and evidence differs in three areas of policy activity (agenda setting, policy development, policy monitoring/modification), which in turn requires different tools to encourage and support research use. This model developed at the provincial level reflects a similar framework at the national level developed by Lavis et al. (2006) for linking research to policy:

  • push efforts by knowledge producers
  • pull efforts by user
  • exchange efforts
  • integrated efforts

Steps for Using Method/Tool

Methods for using research to inform policy depend on the type of policy activity.

1) Setting an agenda

  • Research and information is pushed at the civil servant.
  • Research may be used to identify neglected or emerging issues that need to be on the policy setting agenda. In addition, it can support an issue being addressed.

2) Developing new policies

  • Research and information is pulled by the civil servant.
  • Research is used to inform specific recommendations under a deadline. It can improve confidence in making a recommendation, as well as provide external validation for a policy proposal.

3) Monitoring and modifying existing policies

  • There is an ongoing exchange (or linkage and exchange) between researchers and civil servants, developing collaborative, long-term relationships for the production of evidence.
  • To learn more about linkage and exchange see Partnerships for policymaking and Lomas, 2000.
  • Research is used to determine whether to revise a policy or adjust implementation, and contributes to accountability through monitoring data on performance.

These summaries are written by the NCCMT to condense and to provide an overview of the resources listed in the Registry of Methods and Tools and to give suggestions for their use in a public health context. For more information on individual methods and tools included in the review, please consult the authors/developers of the original resources.

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