Evidence-based policymaking relies on strategies to promote evidence use. These strategies include facilitating access to research through knowledge brokers and policy briefs, and using clearinghouses and rapid assessments to quickly gather evidence for urgent decisions.

Collaborative approaches like research-policy partnerships and policy labs help ensure research is relevant and effectively communicated. Building capacity for evidence use and implementing evidence-based practices are also key to integrating research into policymaking.

Facilitating Evidence Access and Understanding

Knowledge Brokers and Policy Briefs

• Knowledge brokers act as intermediaries between researchers and policymakers, helping to translate research findings into actionable policy recommendations
• They facilitate the exchange of information and build relationships between the research and policy communities
• Policy briefs are concise documents that summarize research findings and provide policy recommendations in an accessible format
• Policy briefs are designed to be easily understood by policymakers and other non-expert audiences (policymakers, journalists, general public)

Evidence Clearinghouses and Rapid Evidence Assessments

• Evidence clearinghouses are online repositories that collect, appraise, and synthesize research evidence on specific policy topics
• They provide policymakers with easy access to high-quality, reliable evidence to inform decision-making (What Works Clearinghouse for education policies)
• Rapid evidence assessments are streamlined literature reviews that provide a quick overview of the available evidence on a specific policy question
• They are conducted in a shorter timeframe than systematic reviews and are useful when policymakers need evidence quickly to inform urgent decisions (during public health emergencies)

Data Visualization Techniques

• Data visualization techniques involve presenting data and research findings in a visual format, such as charts, graphs, and infographics
• Effective data visualization can make complex information more accessible and easier to understand for policymakers and the general public
• Interactive data visualizations allow users to explore data and draw their own conclusions (interactive maps showing geographic disparities in health outcomes)
• Data storytelling combines data visualization with narrative techniques to create compelling stories that engage audiences and communicate key messages (using personal stories to illustrate the impact of policies on individuals and communities)

Collaborative Approaches

Research-Policy Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement

• Research-policy partnerships involve collaboration between researchers and policymakers throughout the research process, from defining research questions to disseminating findings
• These partnerships ensure that research is relevant to policy needs and that findings are communicated effectively to policymakers (partnership between a university and a government agency to evaluate a new program)
• Stakeholder engagement involves actively seeking input from individuals and groups who are affected by or have an interest in a particular policy issue
• Engaging stakeholders can help to build support for evidence-based policies and ensure that diverse perspectives are considered in the policymaking process (community forums, surveys, focus groups)

Policy Labs and Experimentation

• Policy labs are dedicated units within government agencies that use innovative approaches to solve complex policy problems
• They often involve multidisciplinary teams of researchers, designers, and policymakers working together to develop and test new policy solutions (UK Behavioural Insights Team)
• Policy labs may use experimental methods, such as randomized controlled trials, to test the effectiveness of different policy interventions
• Experimentation allows policymakers to gather evidence on what works before scaling up promising interventions (testing different messaging strategies to encourage voter turnout)

Building Evidence-Informed Decision-Making Capacity

Capacity Building for Policymakers and Researchers

• Capacity building involves developing the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to use evidence effectively in policymaking
• For policymakers, this may include training on how to access, appraise, and apply research evidence in decision-making (workshops on interpreting statistical data)
• For researchers, capacity building may focus on developing skills in communicating research findings to policymakers and engaging in policy-relevant research (training on writing policy briefs)
• Capacity building can also involve creating institutional structures and processes that support evidence-based policymaking, such as dedicated research units within government agencies

Implementation Science and Evidence-Based Practice

• Implementation science is the study of methods to promote the adoption and integration of evidence-based practices into routine settings
• It focuses on understanding the barriers and facilitators to implementing evidence-based policies and programs in real-world contexts (examining factors that influence the uptake of a new public health intervention)
• Evidence-based practice involves using the best available research evidence, along with professional expertise and stakeholder preferences, to guide decision-making
• Implementing evidence-based practices requires ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure that policies and programs are achieving their intended outcomes and to identify areas for improvement (using data to track the impact of a new education policy on student achievement)