Influencing policy and practice through social science research evidence

Scullion, Lisa; Beck, Dave; Jones, Katy; Connors, Catherine; Martin, Philip; Gibbons, Andrea; Hynes, Celia

Abstract

In this chapter, we contribute to debates about how social science research can influence policy and practice. We draw upon our own experiences as social policy researchers whose work focuses on poverty and social security to provide case studies of our varied efforts to influence policy and practice at both local and national level. We identify three main approaches that we have utilised across our research: working collaboratively with policy and practice stakeholders in the design and delivery of research; engaging with national policy and practice stakeholders during the lifetime of projects; and submitting research evidence to government consultations. Our approaches represent varying degrees of relationship building and ‘closeness’ with policy and practice stakeholders, which in turn impact on both the level of influence our work has achieved but also our understanding of that influence. In this chapter we provide some reflections and lessons learnt from across our work.

Citation

Scullion, L., Beck, D., Jones, K., Connors, C., Martin, P., Gibbons, A., & Hynes, C. (2023). Influencing policy and practice through social science research evidence. In C. Moraes, M. McEachern, & D. O'Loughlin (Eds.), Researching Poverty and Austerity: Theoretical approaches, methodologies and policy applications. Routledge

• Online Publication Date: Nov 30, 2023
• Publication Date: Nov 30, 2023
• Deposit Date: Oct 13, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: May 31, 2025
• Publisher: Routledge
• Book Title: Researching Poverty and Austerity: Theoretical approaches, methodologies and policy applications
• Chapter Number: 11
• ISBN: 9781032127774
• Publisher URL: https://www.routledge.com/Researching-Poverty-and-Austerity-Theoretical-Approaches-Methodologies/Moraes-McEachern-OLoughlin/p/book/9781032127774