There can be significant time-lags between research funding applications and the publication of findings, typically spanning three to five years. This poses a challenge, as few current governments will still be in place five years from now. Most policy colleagues need answers within hours or days; even a one-year wait is often too long for policy teams.
In this article, Paul Cairney explains why it is notoriously difficult to explain how policy works. Many attempts have been made to visualise a standard, orderly process. But the truth is that policymaking is far messier than any diagram could suggest. While the Institute for Government suggests that policymaking operates on a less rational, more opportunistic basis, there are two models of policymaking that you could use as a reference for your policy engagement (taking into consideration that each policymaker could describe their actual steps in different ways):
-
The Policy Cycle: This model traces the stages that an idea travels through to become policy or legislation. Agenda setting, policy formulation, legitimation, implementation, evaluation, and policy maintenance (or succession or termination) are stages within that cycle.
Credit: Paul Cairney
-
The Policy Funnel: Developed by Nick Mabey and Anita Neville, this model visualises policymaking as starting with an idea that has a broad engagement base, which then funnels to a narrow conclusion through the stages of public opinion, public debate, policy process, final decision, implementation and then monitoring and evaluation.
Credit: Nick Mabey and Anita Neville, E3G
Interview with Robert McMorran
In the following video, Robert McMorran, a social researcher with the Scottish Government, discusses the importance of being responsive and adaptable in research to maintain policy relevance. He uses examples such as Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic to demonstrate how timely and flexible research can significantly influence policy decisions. McMorran emphasises the value of research that is immediately relevant to current challenges faced by policymakers, suggesting that researchers should aim to align their work with the evolving needs of policy environments.