Evidence-Based Policymaking: Envisioning a New Era of Theory, Research, and Practice

431 Pages·2021·2.781 MB·English

by  Karen Bogenschneider, Thomas J. Corbett

EVIDENCE-BASED POLICYMAKING
New thinking is needed on the age-old conundrum of how to connect research and
policymaking. Why does a disconnect exist between the research community, which is
producing thousands of studies relevant to public policy, and the policy community,
which is making thousands of decisions that would benefit from research evidence? The
second edition updates community dissonance theory and provides an even stronger,
more substantiated story of why research is underutilized in policymaking, and what
it will take to connect researchers and policymakers. This book offers a fresh look into
what policymakers and the policy process are like, as told by policymakers themselves
and the researchers who study and work with them.
New to the second edition:
• The point of view of policymakers is infused throughout this book based on a
remarkable new study of 225 state legislators with an extraordinarily high response
rate in this hard-to-access population.
• A new theory holds promise for guiding the study and practice of evidence-based
policy by building on how policymakers say research contributes to policymaking.
• A new chapter features pioneering researchers who have effectively influenced public
policy by engaging policymakers in ways rewarding to both.
• A new chapter  proposes how an engaged university could provide culturally
competent training to create a new type of scholar and scholarship.
This review of state-of-the-art research on evidence-based policy is a benefit to readers
who find it hard to keep abreast of a field that spans the disciplines of business,
economics, education, family sciences, health services, political science, psychology,
public administration, social work, sociology, and so forth.
For those who study evidence-based policy, the book provides the basics of producing
policy-relevant research by introducing researchers to policymakers and the policy
process. Strategies are provided for identifying research questions that are relevant to
the societal problems that confront and confound policymakers. Researchers will have
at their fingertips a breathtaking overview of classic and cutting-edge studies on the
multidisciplinary field of evidence-based policy.
For instructors, the book is written in a language and style that students find engaging.
A topic that many students find mundane becomes germane when they read stories of
what policymakers are like, and examples of researcher’s tribulations and triumphs as
they work to build evidence-based policy. To point students to the most important ideas,
key concepts are highlighted in text boxes.
For those who want to engage policymakers, a new chapter summarizes the breakthroughs
of several researchers who have been successful at driving policy change. The book
provides 12 innovative best practices drawn from the science and practice of engaging
policymakers, including insights from some of the best and brightest researchers and
science writers. It also takes on the daunting task of evaluating the effectiveness of
efforts to engage policymakers around research. A theory of change identifies seven key
elements that are fundamental to increasing policymaker’s use of research, complete with
evaluation protocols and preliminary evidence on each element.
Karen Bogenschneider is a Rothermel-Bascom professor emeritus of Human Ecology at
the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her expertise is the study, teaching, and practice
of evidence-based family policy. She founded and directed the Wisconsin Family Impact
Seminars for 25 years and provided leadership for the Family Impact Institute for
15 years.
Thomas J. Corbett is a senior scientist emeritus and retired Associate Director of the
Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He taught
social policy and consulted at all levels of government throughout his academic career.
EVIDENCE-BASED
POLICYMAKING
Envisioning a New Era of
Theory, Research, and Practice
2nd Edition
Karen Bogenschneider
and Thomas J. Corbett
Second edition published 2021
by Routledge
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and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2021 Taylor & Francis
The right of Karen Bogenschneider and Thomas J. Corbett to be identified as authors
of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised
in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without
intent to infringe.
First edition published by Routledge 2010
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested
ISBN: 978-0-367-52383-1 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-52385-5 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-05766-6 (ebk)
Typeset in Sabon
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
TO OUR SPOUSES.
THEY HAVE PUT UP WITH MUCH AND RECEIVED
SO LITTLE IN RETURN.

CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
Preface: Why We Care and What We Learned in the Last Decade xii
Foreword xx
SECTION 1
The Problem, the Players, and the Policy Process 1
1 Why There Is a Disconnect Between Research and Policy,
and What We Can Do 3
KAREN BOGENSCHNEIDER AND THOMAS J. CORBETT
2 The History of Evidence-Based Policy: A Long-Held Dream 24
KAREN BOGENSCHNEIDER AND THOMAS J. CORBETT
3 Understanding Policymakers: Insights From Science 34
KAREN BOGENSCHNEIDER AND THOMAS J. CORBETT
4 Understanding the Policy Process: Insights From Insiders 60
KAREN BOGENSCHNEIDER AND THOMAS J. CORBETT
SECTION 2
Envisioning a New Era of Theory, Research, and Evaluation 91
5 How Policymakers Say They Use Research: A Fresh Theoretical Framework 93
KAREN BOGENSCHNEIDER AND THOMAS J. CORBETT
6 Configuring the Research and Policy Communities:
Creating an Archipelago 129
KAREN BOGENSCHNEIDER AND THOMAS J. CORBETT
7 Why Research Is Underutilized in Policymaking:
Community Dissonance Theory 155
KAREN BOGENSCHNEIDER AND THOMAS J. CORBETT
vii
CONTENTS
8 Evaluating Efforts to Communicate Research to Policymakers:
A Theory of Change in Action 195
KAREN BOGENSCHNEIDER, HEIDI NORMANDIN, ESTHER ONAGA, SALLY
BOWMAN, SHELLEY MACDERMID WADSWORTH, AND RICHARD
A. SETTERSTEN, JR.
SECTION 3
Envisioning a New Era of Practice 233
9 When Researchers Successfully Engaged Policymakers:
Breakthroughs Do Happen! 235
KAREN BOGENSCHNEIDER AND THOMAS J. CORBETT
10 Engaging Policymakers: Best Practices
From Those Who Study It and Do It! 254
KAREN BOGENSCHNEIDER AND THOMAS J. CORBETT
11 Approaching Policymakers: The Critical Choice
of Advocacy or Education 293
KAREN BOGENSCHNEIDER AND THOMAS J. CORBETT
12 Creating Culturally Competent Scholars Now
and in the Next Generation 322
KAREN BOGENSCHNEIDER AND THOMAS J. CORBETT
Afterword: Turning From Analysis to Action 345
KAREN BOGENSCHNEIDER AND THOMAS J. CORBETT
References 364
Appendix 384
Index 396
viii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Where should we begin and end? So many institutions and individuals were instrumental
in bringing this book to fruition. For policy research and outreach, it truly does take a
village.
First, we want to thank both the William T. Grant Foundation and the Spencer Founda-
tion for their support of the first edition of this book. In particular, we wish to acknowl-
edge Robert Granger, former president, and Vivian Tseng, vice president, of the William
T. Grant Foundation, whose vision and enthusiasm are propelling research on research
utilization to the forefront. This vision continues to be carried forward by Vice President
Vivian Tseng and the new president, Adam Gamoran. We appreciate their support and
that of Senior Program Officer Kim Dumont for the recent policymaker study described
in this book. We are most pleased, however, that they have made the issue of advancing
evidence-informed social policymaking a higher priority within the philanthropic and
research communities. We also appreciate the enthusiasm, support, and patience of our
editor Georgette Enriquez, who made this second edition possible.
As in policy work, it is the people and the relationships that matter the most. No single
group of people has provided Karen with more innovative ideas and unwavering support
than the board of directors for the Family Impact Institute, who served without reim-
bursement because of their commitment to the cause of evidence-based policymaking.
Their passion is inspiring. Their rewards are vicarious. Hats off to the board members
who have served over the years: Richard Barrows, Maria Cancian, Thomas J. Corbett,
Diane Cushman, Governor Tony Earl, Mary Fairchild, Rep. Curtis Gielow, Jane Grinde,
Bill Kraus, Ambassador/Governor Madeleine Kunin, Robert Lang, Mark Lederer, Ruth
Massinga, Marygold Melli, Kristin Anderson Moore, Douglas Nelson, Theodora Ooms,
Robert Pietrykowski, William Schambra, Denise Skinner, Tim Smeeding, Laurence Stein-
berg, and Rep. Rebecca Young.
Of course, this work would not have been possible without the contributions and
input of a large number of policymakers over the years. Unfortunately, those who make
and execute public policies often are maligned and ridiculed. We have watched their
work at close quarters, however, and generally find their efforts to be of the highest qual-
ity and their dedication to the public good to be unquestioned. The difficulty of doing
public policy work should never be underestimated. In addition, Karen owes a special
debt of gratitude to several current and former state legislators who served as advisors
and patiently tried to teach her to think like a policymaker: Rep. Joan Ballweg, Rep.
Peter Bock, Sen. Alice Clausing, Sen. Alberta Darling, Rep. Curt Gielow, (the late) Rep.
Tamara Grigsby, Rep. Stan Gruszynski, Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, Sen. David Helbach,
Rep. Gordon Hintz, Sen. Joanne Huelsman, Rep. Jean Hundertmark, Sen. Julie Lassa,
Rep. Amy Loudenbeck, Sen. Mark Miller, Sen. Gwendolyn Moore, Rep. David Murphy,
ix