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

Interacting with Policymakers

Assessment of Policy Outcomes

Four Policy-making Functions

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