Communication Pathways and Models: Bridging the Gap between Science and Policy

Effective research communication between scientists and policy-makers is becoming an increasingly important subject to consider when tackling some of the world’s most wicked problems. On one hand, scientists must become comfortable with translating their work into information products that can be used beyond scientific circles and understood by laypeople. On the other, policy-makers should attempt […]

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An Introduction to the Science-Policy Interface Concept: What, Why, and How

Today, policy-making is often complex; policy-makers must contend with many different stakeholders and their often-conflicting interests. The rise of evidence-based policy-making over the past quarter century has further complicated policy-making, because policy makers must be aware of and are pressured to use the vast array of scientific and other research information available for informing policy. […]

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Closing the Gap: Translating Information into Policy – Key Observations Drawn Primarily from the Health Sector

Understanding the relationship between research, information, and policy can be challenging. In the health sector, for example, the inter-relationship among the three can be particularly informative for exploring interactions between information and policy development. Discoveries from this area can be applicable to other fields. Traditionally, health was defined narrowly as being attributed to sickness or […]

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A Complicated Web: The Benefits and Challenges of the News and Social Media in Promoting Awareness of Research-Based Information

Massive changes in communication activities due to the rapid rise of social media and transformation in the traditional news media over the past decade have both increased opportunities for researchers to disseminate the results of their studies as well as presented challenges because of the plethora of information channels. Although information can potentially be transmitted […]

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Public Participation in Policy: A More Inclusive Approach to Decision Making

The field of policy making can be influenced by a host of government agencies, interest groups, associations, and social movements, both on a domestic and global scale (Pal, 2010). Considering that the range of players involved depends on the issue at hand, policy literatures have introduced the two concepts of policy community and policy network […]

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Can Research on the Diffusion of Innovations Offer Insights about Enablers and Barriers to Information Use?

The body of literature focused on the enablers and barriers to research use is extensive and insightful. Nutley, Walter, and Davies rightfully categorize the literature as providing “a rich source of theories and evidence that can be mined to inform strategies for promoting research use” (2007, p. 192). Numerous mechanisms such as dissemination, interaction, and […]

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Communication of Research Information: Information Pathways and Models

While many policy makers and practitioners heavily rely on information from the scientific community for their decision making, research about activities at the science-policy interface shows that information use is often not straightforward. Despite the large amounts of scientific information available to policy-makers and practitioners, there are still calls for more “useful” information to be […]

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The Science-Policy Ecosystem: Managing Variabilities, Complexities, and Trade-offs

It is often believed that scientific information and knowledge travels through a linear pipeline that leads straight from researchers to policy makers to use in decision-making and planning. It isn’t so simple–values, political considerations, and available resources are all part of the policy-making process. Peter Gluckman, the Chief Science Advisor to the New Zealand Prime […]

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Improving Use of Research-Based Information in Policy Contexts

Today, governments are expected to promote the use of research in practice settings. Evidence-based practice is viewed as the goal of public services in many developed nations (Nutley, Walter & Davies, 2007). In addition, governments also give attention to use of research-based information in their policy making processes. Developed nations have employed a range of […]

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Measuring the Use and Influence of Research-Based Information

Measuring the use of research-based information is a difficult task, as perhaps best summed up by Nutley, Walter and Davies: “we are unlikely any time soon to see . . . comprehensive evidence neatly linking research, research use, and research impacts” (2007, p. 271). Despite the challenge, it is important to try, for at least […]

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