Short answer
Designers and researchers should proactively work to make evidence accessible, understandable, and relevant to policymakers by framing it in terms of concrete impacts and costs, and by building collaborative networks.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- Milbank Quarterly (2008)
- Method
- Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.
- Sample
- 28 participants
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Effective policy design requires understanding and actively managing the contextual factors, evidence characteristics, and stakeholder influences that facilitate or hinder the incorporation of research into decision-making. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2008 study published in Milbank Quarterly. Using Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. with 28 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers and researchers should proactively work to make evidence accessible, understandable, and relevant to policymakers by framing it in terms of concrete impacts and costs, and by building collaborative networks.
Bridging the Gap: Strategies for Integrating Research Evidence into Policy Design
Effective policy design requires understanding and actively managing the contextual factors, evidence characteristics, and stakeholder influences that facilitate or hinder the incorporation of research into decision-making.
Milbank Quarterly · 2008
Key Findings
- 01Hindrances include institutional features, characteristics of the evidence supply (quantity, quality, accessibility, usability), and competing influences from interest groups.
- 02Facilitators include linking research to concrete impacts, costs, and benefits; reframing issues to fit research; training in evidence-based skills; and developing collaborative research venues.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers and researchers should proactively work to make evidence accessible, understandable, and relevant to policymakers by framing it in terms of concrete impacts and costs, and by building collaborative networks.
How to apply
When developing research or evidence-based recommendations for policy, consider how to present the information in a way that directly addresses policymakers' concerns about impacts, costs, and benefits. Invest time in building relationships with key stakeholders.
Project actions
- 01When researching a problem for a design project, think about who the 'policymakers' are and what would make them listen to your findings.
- 02Consider how you can make your research 'usable' and 'accessible' to your target audience, not just academically sound.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides rich, in-depth understanding of real-world policymaking processes.
- +Focuses on practical facilitators and hindrances directly relevant to implementation.
Limitations
The study focused on health policy in state government, so the specific facilitators and hindrances might differ in other contexts or for different types of policy.
Reliability & validity
The qualitative nature of the study provides depth but limits generalizability. Triangulation of findings across multiple participants strengthens validity. Reliability would depend on the consistency of coding and interpretation.
Think critically
To what extent can the 'characteristics of the evidence supply' (quantity, quality, accessibility, usability) be objectively measured, and how might subjective perceptions of these characteristics by policymakers influence their use?
Design Principles
"Evidence integration in policy design is an active process requiring strategic engagement with context, content, and stakeholders."
This research highlights that simply producing high-quality evidence is insufficient for its adoption in policy. Designers and researchers involved in policy development must proactively address systemic barriers and cultivate facilitators, such as linking evidence to tangible impacts and fostering collaborative relationships, to ensure their work informs effective and evidence-based outcomes.
What This Means for Your Design
It's hard to get research used in making policies because of how government works, the research itself, and other people trying to influence decisions. But, if you show how research helps solve real problems, train people to use it, and work together, it's much more likely to be used.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the challenges of implementing design solutions or when justifying the need for user research and stakeholder engagement in your design process.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights that the successful integration of evidence into policy design is significantly influenced by contextual factors, the characteristics of the evidence itself, and the presence of competing influences. Facilitators such as linking research to tangible impacts and fostering collaborative relationships are crucial for overcoming hindrances like limited accessibility and competing stakeholder interests, suggesting that design projects aiming for policy impact must actively manage these dynamics.
Source
Milbank Quarterly
“Developing Good Taste in Evidence”: Facilitators of and Hindrances to Evidence‐Informed Health Policymaking in State Government
journal · 2008
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about bridging the gap: strategies for integrating research evidence into policy design?
- Designers and researchers should proactively work to make evidence accessible, understandable, and relevant to policymakers by framing it in terms of concrete impacts and costs, and by building collaborative networks. Evidence: Milbank Quarterly (2008).
- Why does "Bridging the Gap: Strategies for Integrating Research Evidence into Policy Design" matter for design?
- This research highlights that simply producing high-quality evidence is insufficient for its adoption in policy. Designers and researchers involved in policy development must proactively address systemic barriers and cultivate facilitators, such as linking evidence to tangible impacts and fostering collaborative relationships, to ensure their work informs effective and evidence-based outcomes.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers and researchers should proactively work to make evidence accessible, understandable, and relevant to policymakers by framing it in terms of concrete impacts and costs, and by building collaborative networks.
- What were the main findings?
- Hindrances include institutional features, characteristics of the evidence supply (quantity, quality, accessibility, usability), and competing influences from interest groups.. Facilitators include linking research to concrete impacts, costs, and benefits; reframing issues to fit research; training in evidence-based skills; and developing collaborative research venues.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. with 28 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2008 journal from Milbank Quarterly.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing research or evidence-based recommendations for policy, consider how to present the information in a way that directly addresses policymakers' concerns about impacts, costs, and benefits. Invest time in building relationships with key stakeholders.
- What are the limitations?
- Findings are specific to state government health policymaking and may not generalize to other levels of government or policy domains. The study relies on self-reported experiences, which may be subject to recall bias.