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Using knowledge: the dilemmas of 'bridging research and policy'

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Stone, Diane. (2002) Using knowledge: the dilemmas of 'bridging research and policy'. Compare, Vol.32 (No.3). pp. 285-296. ISSN 0305-7925

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0305792022000007454

Abstract

The 'knowledge agenda' has become a central part of development discourse. This paper addresses one aspect of this discourse - the use of policy research in the social sciences - and the dilemmas that have been encountered by both development agencies and researchers in communicating and making use of that research. Development agencies as well as NGOs have initiated work to evaluate and document the effectiveness of research partnerships, knowledge capacity building and (social) science policy impact. As a multilateral initiative, the Global Development Network (GDN), and especially its 'Bridging Research and Policy' project, provides a vehicle to address issues related to research impact. Twelve perspectives on improving research and policy linkages are outlined to reveal that how the problem is defined shapes policy responses. Taken together, these explanations provide a multifaceted picture of the research-policy nexus indicating that there are many possible routes to 'bridging' research and policy. These diverse perspectives will be categorised into three broad categories of explanation: (i) supply-side; (ii) demand-led; and (iii) policy currents. However, knowledge is part of the solution to many development problems but not of itself a panacea.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Subjects:

J Political Science > JA Political science (General)

Divisions:

Faculty of Social Sciences > Politics and International Studies

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

Global Development Network, Political development, Knowledge, Sociology of, Non-governmental organizations, Political sociology

Journal or Publication Title:

Compare

Publisher:

Routledge

ISSN:

0305-7925

Official Date:

October 2002

Dates:

Date	Event
October 2002	Published

Volume:

Vol.32

Number:

No.3

Page Range:

pp. 285-296

Identification Number:

10.1080/0305792022000007454

Status:

Peer Reviewed

Access rights to Published version:

Open Access

References:

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