Dr James Rees (@JamesRees_tsrc) from the Third Sector Research Centre examines the challenges of emerging 'impact agendas' with regard to funding community sector organisations. This is the second of three blog posts from James which tackle different aspects of this issue.Part one, Taming the monster', examined the value add of the community sector in service delivery and policy implementation.

Creating using evidencePower to Persuade23 October 2014outcome and impacts

Sponsored policy research: getting the right balance between academic policy and its 'usefulness'

This post originally appeared on Professor Christina Boswell's personal blog, but we felt it was highly relevant in Australia particularly given the recently announced review of the ARC's Cooperative Research Centre program. Christina in a Professor of Politics at the University of Edinburgh, her research explores the use of knowledge in policymaking and politics.

What should we be paying attention to in policy, cause or effect?

When we think about policy and politics, we tend to gravitate to the elite - concentrating on the efforts of a select few in shaping the process. In today's post, Dr Kemran Mestan provides a timely reminder to not lose sight of policy effects.

Kemran is a senior research officer at La Trobe University, you can read more about his research here.

Creating using evidencePower to Persuade20 October 2014outcome and impacts

A closer look at policy targeting and its role in addressing inequality

Policy that targets those groups most in need is the fairest way to distribute limited resources, right? Not necessarily, writes Dr Gemma Carey.

Nuances of evidence-based policy

Creating using evidencePower to Persuade10 October 2014evidence-based policy

Data, more data and statistics

At this year's Power to Persuade Symposium, we looked at the role of data vs anecdote in influencing policy. Prof Richard Madden, from Sydney University, reminded us that statistics also have a good story to tell if we are only prepared to listen...

Creating using evidencePower to Persuade4 October 2014research

Participatory research with young people: why, how and what might happen

By Leo Fieldgrass, National Director of the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC) and Manager of Participation and Development at the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic)

Creating using evidence, IssuesPower to Persuade20 September 2014research, social inequalities, young people

Why 'real' policy impact is so difficult to evidence

In this post below, republished with permission, Professor Christina Boswell asks how we can tell what function research is playing in policy-making? It's a timely question ahead of tomorrow's 2014 Power to Persuade symposium.

Christina Boswell is Professor of Politics at the University of Edinburgh and writes on politics, knowledge and immigration at her blog, where this article was originally published.

Creating using evidencePower to Persuade15 September 2014outcome and impacts

Carrots or sticks? How policies stack up to the evidence on motivating behaviour change

The current government’s reform agenda has been analysed from many angles. In this article Susan Maury, Social Policy Researcher from Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, suggests using the lens of motivational psychology to design effective responses to complex social problems. Policies such as ‘work for the dole’ have not proven nearly as effective as holistic support such as Youth Connections, which had 94% of participants still engaged in employment or education six months after completing the program. There is a wealth of evidence about what motivates people to change their behaviour that does not seem to be part of the current policy debate.

Providing better pathways for vulnerable women: a gendered analysis of welfare reform

The McClure interim report raises many questions about the structure and adequacy of Australia’s welfare system. It highlights that single parents, carers and people with disability have lower levels of employment than others in the community, and that the income support and welfare systems need to reflect the needs and challenges of these groups.

What is not explicit is the gendered nature of this problem. Dr Rhonda Cumberland, CEO of Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, reflects that by ignoring gender, the review neglects some of the preventable costs that can be reduced in the Australian welfare system.

Creating using evidence, IssuesPower to Persuade12 August 2014research, gender, social welfare

Twitter and blogs reflect underlying passion of academic research

The role of the academic humanist has always been a public one – however mediated through teaching and publication, argues Tim Hitchcock. As a central means to participate in public conversations, Twitter and blogging just make good academic sense. Hitchcock looks at how these new platforms are facilitating academic collaboration, teaching and public engagement. What starts as a blog, ends as an academic output, and an output with a ready-made audience, eager to cite it.

Creating using evidence, AdvocacyPower to Persuade4 August 2014research, communication

Targets: dammed if you do, dammed if you don't

Part Two of Professor Christina Boswell's (from the University of Edinburgh) thoughts on the use of targets in public policy. A no win situation?

Targets in Public Policy: Disciplining or Signaling?

Targets are a popular tool in public policy, held up as a way to promote integration and accountability. Below, Professor Christina Boswell looks at how effective they really are. You can check out her full report here.

Science and the perils of the press release: who is to blame?

Researchers often bemoan the beatups in the media about their work, yet a recent UK study shows that many university press releases exaggerate or hype research findings or made them more determinist. UK scientist and blogger Alasdair Taylor looks at the risks of "churnalism" and asks in the wake of a recent conference: can scientists themselves offer the needed reflection on their research that an investigative journalist might do?

Creating using evidence, AdvocacyPower to Persuade17 July 2014research, media

Practitioners in the 'art of government' what do policy makers, politicians, lobbyists say about the policy process?

Researchers Dr Gemma Carey (@gemcarey) and Brad Crammond have interviewed a range of politicians, senior past and present bureaucrats, government advisors and lobbyists to find ways to break down barriers between sectors, close research practice gaps and create policy change. Their report was released this week at a research forum hosted by the national Social Determinants of Health Alliance (SDOHA).

A deeper problem: 'paying their own way' not accepting charity

It is vital that those impacted by policies are given the opportunity to express their needs and have a voice in the policy process. This is often easier said than done. In this post, Tanya Corrie from Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service reflects on what this means for those who are financially excluded andwho access the fringe lending market. While regulation is imperative, Tanya also notes it is important to understand the underlying, cultural reasons that people prefer to 'pay their own way' rather than 'accept charity' and why this is such an emotive proposition.

Creating using evidenceTanya Corrie30 June 2014outcome and impacts

What are the implications of "outcomes' based funding?

The Shergold review of social services has put outcomes based funding back on the table. Below, Simon Smith from Wesley Mission Victoria unpacks what lies behind interest in 'outcomes based funding' and what it might mean for program delivery.

Creating using evidenceDr. Gemma Carey16 June 2014outcome and impacts

How to make make outcomes-based funding work

Outcomes-based funding gets a lot of flack from the community sector. As Simon Smith from Wesley Mission raised in a post earlier this week, its ambiguity is taken as cause for concern.

Simon's post got us thinking about what some of the upsides of outcomes-based funding might be. So, as we like to do from time-to-time at PTP, we asked some academics to lend a hand.

In this article Dr Fiona Buick (@fibuick) from the University of Canberra, Dr Gemma Carey (@gemcarey) from ANU and Dr Pauline McLoughlin (@PJ_McLoughlin), Lighthouse Institute and Centre for Youth Mental Health affiliate, ask: 'what’s so bad about outcomes-based funding?'

Creating using evidenceDr. Gemma Carey7 June 2014outcome and impacts

What do White House policy makers want from researchers?

How do we influence the decision-makers? Duncan Green, strategic adviser for Oxfam GB and author of ‘From Poverty to Power’, considers a recent study of US national security policymakers through a non-government organisation (NGO) lens. We thank him for his permission to republish his post here.

Issues, Creating using evidencePower to Persuade6 June 2014research, housing and homelessness

Moral arguments, twitter and the quest for policy change

Moral and ethical arguments sit at the core of public policy. Politics and policymaking is, after all, a contest over ideas and world views.

The evidence-based policy paradigm has encouraged academics and, to a lesser extent, advocates to disengage from the moral dimensions of the arguments they make. But, by disengaging we sidestep the very ground upon which policy arguments are fought and won.

Below, Associate Professor Brent Sasley and Associate Professor Mira Sucharov reflect on the opportunities presented when we combine evidence with a moral stance through social media:

Creating using evidence, AdvocacyPower to Persuade27 May 2014evidence-based policy, media

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