Using research to inform policy: some thoughts from the field

Speakers' slides are available here

Informing policy for FLaG

Planning a pathway into policy

Policy Case Study - Katie Ellis

The utilisation of evidence-based research is essential to those who both shape and fund policy, at either a local or a national level. However, there a number of reasons for poor research utilisation including a lack of understanding of policy processes; weak demand from policymakers for research evidence; and a poor supply of policy-relevant research (Porter, 2010), as well as the (mis)alignment of research findings with prevailing governmental politics, policies and priorities.

This discursive session will start with an overview of how and where early career researchers can seek to inform policy, as well as some of the challenges, pitfalls and possibilities of doing so, drawing on the insights from three speakers working on policy and practice designed to support care leavers and care experienced students: Dr Zoe Baker, British Academy Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of York; Dr Katie Ellis, Lecturer in Child and Family Health and Wellbeing at the University of Sheffield; and Professor Jacqueline Stevenson, Sociology and Social policy, University of Leeds.

To join the session directly please click here