The critical factors in producing high quality and policy-relevant research: insights from international behavioural science units
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Authors
Lecouturier, JanVlaev, Ivo
Chadwick, Paul
Chater, Angel M.
Kelly, Michael P.
Goffe, Louis
Meyer, Carly
Tang, Mei Yee
Antonopoulou, Vivi
Graham, Fiona
Sniehotta, Falko F.
Affiliation
Newcastle UniversityUniversity of Warwick
University College London
University of Bedfordshire
University of Cambridge
Issue Date
2023-09-14
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Background There has been a rapid increase in the number of, and demand for, organisations offering behavioural science advice to government over the last 10 years. Yet we know little of the state of science and the experiences of these evidence providers. Aims and objectives To identify current practice in this emerging field and the factors that impact on the production of high quality and policy-relevant research. Methods A qualitative study using one-to-one interviews with representatives from a purposeful sample of 15 units in the vanguard of international behavioural science research in policy. The data were analysed thematically. Findings Relationships with policymakers were important in the inception of units, research conduct, implementation and dissemination of findings. Knowledge exchange facilitated a shared understanding of policy issues/context, and of behavioural science. Sufficient funding was crucial to maintain critical capacity in the units’ workforces, build a research portfolio beneficial to policymakers and the units, and to ensure full and transparent dissemination. Discussion and conclusion Findings highlight the positive impact of strong evidence-provider/user relationships and the importance of governments commitment to co-produced research programmes to address policy problems and transparency in the dissemination of methods and findings. From the findings we have created a framework ‘STEPS’ (Sharing, Transparency, Engagement, Partnership, Strong relationships) of five recommendations for units working with policymakers. These findings will be of value to all researchers conducting research on behalf of government.Citation
Lecouturier J, Vlaev I, Chadwick P, Chater AM, Kelly MP, Goffe L, Meyer C, Yee Tang M, Antonopoulou V, Graham F, Sniehotta FF (2023) 'The critical factors in producing high quality and policy-relevant research: insights from international behavioural science units ', Evidence and Policy, 20 (2), pp.141-162.Journal
Evidence and PolicyAdditional Links
https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/evp/aop/article-10.1332-17442648Y2023D000000001Type
ArticleLanguage
enISSN
1744-2648Sponsors
NIHR Policy Research Programme - Policy Research Unit in Behavioural Scienceae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1332/17442648Y2023D000000001
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