Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2009
Journal
Evidence and Policy
Volume
5
Issue
1
First Page
33
Last Page
51
URL with Digital Object Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1332/174426409X395402
Abstract
The potential for research to influence policy, and for researchers to influence policy actors, is significant. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of health services researchers engaging in (or not able to engage in) policy-relevant research. Semi-structured telephone interviews were completed with 23 experienced researchers.The results paint a complex and dynamic picture of the policy environment and the relationship between government officials and academic researchers. Elements of this complexity included diverse understandings of the nature of policy and how research relates to policy; dealing with multiple stakeholders in the policy-making process; and identifying strategies to manage the different cultures of government and academia.
