Pathways into policy: a study of the relationship between research, policy and government

The research presented in this report was conducted as part of the ESRC funded
scopic network. It aimed to study the inter-relationship between policy, research and
government with a view to making recommendations designed to enhance the
influence of research on policy.
The research involved a comparison of approaches to policy making in criminal
justice and healthcare, and comprised a review of the relevant literature as well as
interviews with 13 key policy makers in both fields.
The concept of ‘evidence based policy’ raises a number of interesting questions,
including: what kinds of evidence are used; what should the proper role of evidence
in policy be; what are the obstacles to adopting an evidence-based approach to
policy; how can the findings of research be made more policy relevant?, and; what
can researchers and policy makers do to achieve a more productive relationship?
These questions are addressed in this report.