Literacy policy and English/literacy practice: : Researching the interaction between different knowledge fields

This article considers the role of research in disentangling an increasingly complex relationship between literacy policy and practice as it is emerging in different local and national contexts. What are the tools and methodologies that have been used to track this relationship over time? Where should they best focus attention now? In answering these questions this paper will consider three different kinds of research perspectives and starting points for enquiry: 1. Policy evaluation. The use of a range of quantitative research tools to feed policy decision-making by tracking the impact on pupil performance of different kinds of pedagogic or policy change (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD], 2010). 2. Co-construction and policy translation. This has for some time been a central preoccupation in policy sociology, which has used small-scale and context specific research to test the limits to the control over complex social fields that policy exercises from afar (Ball, 1994). Agentic re-framings of policy at the local level stand as evidence for the potential to challenge, mitigate or reorder such impositions. 3. Ethnographies of policy time and space. Ethnographic research tools have long been used to document community literacy practices, and in training their lens on the classroom have sought to focus on the potential dissonance between community and schooled practices. It is rarer to find such research tools deployed to explore the broader policy landscape. In the light of debate within the field, part of the purpose of this article is to examine how ethnographic research tools might be refined to study how policy from afar reshapes literacy practices in the here and now. (Brandt and Clinton, 2002)

Governing science as a complex adaptive system

Research policy is a complex matter. Copying best practices in research policy, as identified by benchmarking studies, is popular amongst policy makers but fails because of ‘knowledge asymmetries’. Research fields exhibit distinct knowledge dynamics that respond differently to governance interventions. Extending the idea of search regimes, this paper aims at providing a policy model for different knowledge dynamics by elaborating the notion of knowledge production as a complex adaptive system. Complex regimes emerge from three interacting sources of variance. In our conceptualisation, researchers are the nodes that carry the science system. Research can be considered as geographically situated practices with site specific skills, equipments and tools. The emergent science level refers to the formal communication activities of the knowledge published in journals and books, and announced in conferences. The contextual dynamics refer to the ways in which knowledge production provides resources for social and economic development. This conceptualization allows us to disaggregate knowledge dynamics both in horizontal (field related) and vertical (level related) dimensions by articulating the three different dynamics and their path dependencies (in research, science and society) in co-evolution with each other to produce distinct search regimes in each field. The implication for research governance is that generic measures can sometimes be helpful but there is clear need for disaggregated measures targeting field specific search regimes. Governing knowledge production through disaggregated measures means targeting in a distinct way not only different fields, but also, and more importantly, the interactions between local research practices, emergent scientific landscapes, and the field’s relationship to its societal context. If all three “levels” are aligned, there is a stable regime.search regime, research and innovation governance, complex adaptive system

Intelligent policy making? Key actors' perspectives on the development and implementation of a national early years' initiative

Increased political enthusiasm for evidence-based policy and action has re-ignited interest in the use of evidence within political and practitioner networks. Theories of evidence-based policy making and practice are being re-considered in an attempt to better understand the processes through which knowledge translation occurs. Understanding how policy develops, and practice results, has the potential to facilitate effective evidence use. Further knowledge of the factors which shape healthcare delivery and their influence in different contexts is needed.<p></p> This paper explores the processes involved in the development of a complex intervention in Scotland's National Health Service (NHS). It uses a national oral health programme for children (Childsmile) as a case study, drawing upon key actors' perceptions of the influence of different drivers (research evidence, practitioner knowledge and values, policy, and political and local context) to programme development. Framework analysis is used to analyse stakeholder accounts from in-depth interviews. Documentary review is also undertaken.<p></p> Findings suggest that Childsmile can be described as an ‘evidence-informed’ intervention, blending available research evidence with knowledge from practitioner experience and continual learning through evaluation, to plan delivery. The importance of context was underscored, in terms of the need to align with prevailing political ideology and in the facilitative strength of networks within the relatively small public health community in Scotland. Respondents' perceptions support several existing theoretical models of translation, however no single theory offered a comprehensive framework covering all aspects of the complex processes reported. Childsmile's use of best available evidence and on-going contribution to knowledge suggest that the programme is an example of intelligent policy making with international relevance.<p></p&gt

Coordination of innovation policy in the catching-up context: Estonia and Brazil compared

This paper proposes an analytical framework for analysing innovation policies in catching-up economies. The framework combines two dynamic trajectories that affect innovation policy . policy content and policy governance context . and builds an approach that looks at innovation policy governance through a multi-level concept of policy coordination. The paper argues that for understanding and analysing innovation-policy governance systems, the comprehension of the developments in the field of public-administration-and-management research and practice is as necessary as understanding developments in the field of innovation policy research and practice because the developments in the former partly condition what are the feasible models for increasing the effectiveness of innovation-policy governance. The paper applies the framework to two stylised case studies . Estonia and Brazil . and shows that the framework is useful for revealing the complexities of innovation-policy governance that are overlooked in narrow innovation policy analysis and shows that innovationpolicy governance challenges may be more complex than usually presumed.

A systematic review of frameworks for the interrelationships of mental health evidence and policy in low- and middle-income countries

Background: The interrelationships between research evidence and policy-making are complex. Different theoretical frameworks exist to explain general evidence–policy interactions. One largely unexplored element of these interrelationships is how evidence interrelates with, and influences, policy/political agenda-setting. This review aims to identify the elements and processes of theories, frameworks and models on interrelationships of research evidence and health policy-making, with a focus on actionability and agenda-setting in the context of mental health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: A systematic review of theories was conducted based on the BeHeMOTh search method, using a tested and refined search strategy. Nine electronic databases and other relevant sources were searched for peer-reviewed and grey literature. Two reviewers screened the abstracts, reviewed full-text articles, extracted data and performed quality assessments. Analysis was based on a thematic analysis. The included papers had to present an actionable theoretical framework/model on evidence and policy interrelationships, such as knowledge translation or evidence-based policy, specifically target the agenda-setting process, focus on mental health, be from LMICs and published in English. Results: From 236 publications included in the full text analysis, no studies fully complied with our inclusion criteria. Widening the focus by leaving out ‘agenda-setting’, we included ten studies, four of which had unique conceptual frameworks focusing on mental health and LMICs but not agenda-setting. The four analysed frameworks confirmed research gaps from LMICs and mental health, and a lack of focus on agenda-setting. Frameworks and models from other health and policy areas provide interesting conceptual approaches and lessons with regards to agenda-setting. Conclusion: Our systematic review identified frameworks on evidence and policy interrelations that differ in their elements and processes. No framework fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Four actionable frameworks are applicable to mental health and LMICs, but none specifically target agenda-setting. We have identified agenda-setting as a research theory gap in the context of mental health knowledge translation in LMICs. Frameworks from other health/policy areas could offer lessons on agenda-setting and new approaches for creating policy impact for mental health and to tackle the translational gap in LMICs

SME policy and the Regional Dimension of Innovation: Towards a New Paradigm for Innovation Policy?

Based on the empirical findings achieved in a comparative research,involving 40 innovation policy instruments in 11 European regions, thispaper exposes the claim for a new innovation policy paradigm andproposes a shift in rationale and in broad orientations for innovationpolicy, addressing SMEs in their regional context. The main role forinnovation policy, which aims to increase the capacity of a region andthe capabilities of its SMEs to innovate, is to foster interactive learningwithin the firms and within the region. This calls for an interactivemode of policy intervention.The paper also deals with the question of how to build a coherentportfolio of policy instruments, taking into account both regionalsituations and specific SMEs needs in terms of innovation. The keymessage delivered is that there is no "one-size-fits-all" policy portfolio.Regional differences in innovation capabilities call for a tailored mix ofpolicy instruments. One salient element of the conclusion is the need formore "policy intelligence" in this complex field.economics of technology ;

Decision makers\u27 experience of participatory dynamic simulation modelling: Methods for public health policy

Background: Systems science methods such as dynamic simulation modelling are well suited to address questions about public health policy as they consider the complexity, context and dynamic nature of system-wide behaviours. Advances in technology have led to increased accessibility and interest in systems methods to address complex health policy issues. However, the involvement of policy decision makers in health-related simulation model development has been lacking. Where end-users have been included, there has been limited examination of their experience of the participatory modelling process and their views about the utility of the findings. This paper reports the experience of end-user decision makers, including senior public health policy makers and health service providers, who participated in three participatory simulation modelling for health policy case studies (alcohol related harm, childhood obesity prevention, diabetes in pregnancy), and their perceptions of the value and efficacy of this method in an applied health sector context. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with end-user participants from three participatory simulation modelling case studies in Australian real-world policy settings. Interviewees were employees of government agencies with jurisdiction over policy and program decisions and were purposively selected to include perspectives at different stages of model development. Results: The ‘co-production’ aspect of the participatory approach was highly valued. It was reported as an essential component of building understanding of the modelling process, and thus trust in the model and its outputs as a decision-support tool. The unique benefits of simulation modelling included its capacity to explore interactions of risk factors and combined interventions, and the impact of scaling up interventions. Participants also valued simulating new interventions prior to implementation in the real world, and the comprehensive mapping of evidence and its gaps to prioritise future research. The participatory aspect of simulation modelling was time and resource intensive and therefore most suited to high priority complex topics with contested options for intervening. Conclusion: These findings highlight the value of a participatory approach to dynamic simulation modelling to support its utility in applied health policy settings

Using an asset-based approach to identify drivers of sustainable rural growth and poverty reduction in Central America : a conceptual framework

The asset-based approach considers links between households'productive, social, and locational assets; the policy, institutional, and risk context; household behavior as expressed in livelihood strategies; and well-being outcomes. For sustainable poverty reducing growth, it is critical to examine household asset portfolios and understand how assets interact with the context to influence the selection of livelihood strategies, which in turn determine well-being. Policy reforms can change the context and income-generating potential of assets. Investments can add new assets or increase the efficiency of existing household assets, and also improve households'risk management capacity to protect assets. After all is said and done, a household's asset portfolio will determine whether growth and poverty reduction can be achieved and sustained over time. The asset-based framework is amendable to different analytical techniques. Siegel suggests combining quantitative and qualitative spatial and household level analyses (and linked spatial and household level analyses) to deepen understanding of the complex relationships between assets, context, livelihood strategies, and well-being outcomes.Municipal Financial Management,Economic Theory&Research,Public Health Promotion,International Terrorism&Counterterrorism,Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Poverty Assessment,Environmental Economics&Policies,International Terrorism&Counterterrorism,Municipal Financial Management

ECONOMICAL THINK-TANKS IN ROMANIA

In Romania, the economical research benefits from a complex and efficient institutional framework. Beyond research, the Romanian economical think-tanks perform important functions oriented towards the governing factors and the professional audience, so that, directly or indirectly, the research result influences the government and the local administration policies, but also shapes public opinion tendencies towards the support or limitation of certain types of economic policies. While the origin of the modern think-tanks is to be found in the United States of America, the organization and functioning of the Romanian ones are still strongly influenced by the Russian model of the research institutes, subordinated to the Academy. The Romanian reality of the economic think-tanks represents the fusion of the two models, being able to efficiently meet the challenges of a fluctuating global economic context and the needs of the national economy in transition.think-tank, policy making, economic policies, policy research organizations

The impact of regionalised RTDI policy measures in Germany: the Network RNA Technologies Berlin (RiNA) as an example

Taking the most popular regional RTDI policy concepts, particularly the network para-digm (Cooke/Morgan 1993) as a starting point, it is the objective of this paper to theo-retically and empirically discuss the necessity and impact of regional or regionalised RTDI policy measures within the context of multi-level governance. Based on the pro-motional measure Netzwerk RNA-Technologien Berlin, initiated by the German Minis-try of Education and Research (BMBF), we shall discuss what kinds of specific policy measures can be undertaken in order to activate and support regionally embedded scientific-technological potentials. In addition, attention will be paid to challenges re-garding the multi-level governance of the funding measure and regional and national effects, particularly within the context of research and networks aspects. What can be seen from the case study is that the coordination of the funding measure proved to be quite challenging. Due to the long-lasting andcomplicated process of setting up the funding measure and the implicit, diverging goals and interests of the key players BMBF, Senate and industry, the resulting network is characterised by unique structural elements which are intertwined or overlap with each other in complex ways. However, due to the policy measure - which supports network activities primarily within coopera-tion projects -, the cooperation intensity of scientific institutions with companies was increased significantly, thus contributing to the goal of fostering the commercial exploitation of research results. --