SRA Course ‘Research into policy and practice’

1. SRA Course ‘Research into policy and practice’ What policy makers and practitioners want: an insider view

2. Though there are similarities....

3. Perspectives can be quite different

4. or....

5. Or even ......

6. 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

7. 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

8. What do Ministers need? Information and advice that is – * timely * concise * clear * sets out facts and pressures * offers options * evaluates * recommends

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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