Interdisciplinary Public Policy Analysis
Interdisciplinarians are often driven by the desire to improve public policy. It is important not to be seduced by the idea that good research insights will be automatically translated into policy. Rather, it is useful to see public policy analysis as an additional challenge that requires its own strategies.
We provide here a three-step approach to policy analysis:
Step 1 Goal Setting
Step 2 Identifying Means
Step 3 Reducing Negative Side-effects
Szostak, Rick, Restoring Human Progress. Cranmore Publications (UK), February, 2012, ch. 12,
Szostak, Rick, “Interdisciplinarity and the Teaching of Public Policy” Journal of Policy Analysis and Management.24:4, 853-63 (Fall, 2005).
We also provide more practical advice of various types:
Integrating the Views of Citizens
Integrating the Views of Researchers
Common Mismatches between Research and Policy
Interdisciplinary Community Development
One valuable resource for connecting research to public policy is A Short Guide to Designing Interdisciplinary Research for Policy and Practice by Dr Catherine Lyall at https://www.wiki.ed.ac.uk/download/attachments/72843813/ISSTI_ID_Briefing_Note_6_ID_research_for_policy_and_practice.pdf?version=1&modificationDate=1234213081000&api=v2