SRA Course ‘Research into policy and practice’

What policy makers and practitioners want: an

insider view

Though there are similarities....

Perspectives can be quite different

or....

Or even ......

Perspectives can be quite different

• Minister• Senior Gov’t official• Local politician• Local Gov’t officer• Opposition politician• Delivery Charity (eg Housing Association)

• Campaigning charity• Media editor/journalist

Some Pressures on Ministers• Need to make an impact (short shelf life)• Manifesto commitments• Press campaigns• Pressure groups• Prime Minister• Chancellor• Party • Events/Headlines• Convictions

What do Ministers need?

Information and advice that is – * timely

* concise* clear* sets out facts and pressures* offers options* evaluates* recommends

What do policy officials need?

• Data as up to date as possible• Especially trends and projections• Good analysis of impact of existing policies• ‘Best is enemy of good’ – universities pursue

the advancement of human knowledge; government manages aspects of the economy and society to improve our quality of life in the short, medium and long term

What should you give them?

• Obviously the best analysis, based on the best material you have, in the time available.

• But also your best judgement of:– what that analysis is telling you – what policy conclusions you would draw – what the analysis is not telling you – what more analysis should/could be done/by

when/how much would it improve decision-making• And you should give a heads-up when your analysis is

picking up potential issues, which have not yet reached policy makers

The Local Councillor• Councils have many statutory duties, which

they are under pressure to deliver• Additional services are more marginal – but

often important to voters• What Councillors do affects the people who

directly vote for them• So does the Council Tax they set – (which can be

capped by Gov’t)

• Will want influence Gov’t policy in its favour

The Local Gov’t Officer• Is subject to much more detailed control by

politicians than in central gov’t• And more likely to affected by a change in the

local wind• And more likely to be personally blamed for

delivery failures• But is more likely to be a service specialist

than Councillors or civil servants• And will be just as keen to influence policy of

councillors & government

The service delivery charity• Has many similarities with local government

and statutory service providers• Will have contracts to deliver and grant

conditions to fill• Will have to remain solvent year on year• Is more likely than LG to be able to control

the number of clients it has to deal with• But will always want to do more delivery and

to influence policy

The Opposition Politician• National or local, will want to prove that the

parties in Government don’t have it right• Will be looking for evidence of policy failures• But will also be looking for new ideas (clear

blue water)

• Some with no hope of office will support evidenced positions, regardless of cost

• But the closer to office they are, the more future costs will press on them

The Campaigning Charity

• Will always want to push the boundaries along• Won’t always be scrupulous about the

inferences it draws from research (or may just be over-enthusiastic)

• Won’t necessarily balance opportunities and costs

• But could be very good at highlighting the results of your research

Media editor/journalist• Will have some principles and a regard for

truth (and lawyers to ensure this)• But is operating in a highly competitive

environment• So will look for headlines and scandals• And will always tend to oversimplify –

(especially in headlines/front pages)• Your caveats may well get lost in the short

term