Transforming research into an engaging policy story

Transforming research into an
engaging policy story
Dr Svitlana Kobzar
Assistant Professor at Vesalius College, Vrije Universiteit
Brussel and Research Fellow at Wolfson College,
University of Cambridge
1st February 2013
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•  Moderator: Neha Sinha
Research Assistant, MPC
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Webinar Agenda
•  Introduction
•  Presentation by Dr Kobzar
•  Q & A
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Wri$ng a Policy Brief Dr Svitlana Kobzar
Presenta(on Outline 1.  Wri$ng for policy-­‐makers: key strategies 2.  Crea$ng a policy story and making your ideas ‘s$ck’ 3.  Different types of policy briefs and their main func$ons 4.  ‘Dos and don’ts’ of policy briefs 5.  Turning a research paper into a policy brief 6 Let us begin 1.  Wri(ng for policy-­‐makers: key strategies 2. 
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Crea$ng a policy story and making your ideas ‘s$ck’ Different types of policy briefs and their main func$ons ‘Dos and don’ts’ of policy briefs Turning a research paper into a policy brief 7 Who is the audience? 8 Tailor your document to your target audience •  While researchers are interested in your methodology and datasets… 9 Tailor your document to your target audience •  Policymakers might look only at summary and conclusions and skim through the rest of the document. 10 When wri(ng a policy brief, ask yourself: •  What is my core message? •  Am I brief, clear and straighRorward in communica$ng it? •  Why should policymakers care about it? 11 Presenta(on Outline 1.  Wri$ng for policy-­‐makers: key strategies 2.  Crea(ng a policy story and making your ideas ‘s(ck’ 3.  Different types of policy briefs and their main func$ons 4.  ‘Dos and don’ts’ of policy briefs 5.  Turning a research paper into a policy brief 12 How to make policy ideas ‘s(ck’ 13 By ‘s(ck’, meaning that... •  your ideas are understood and remembered, and have a las(ng impact •  they change your audience's opinions or behaviour (Heath and Heath, 2007: 8) 14 15 ‘Made to S(ck’ principles by Chip & Dan Heath (2008) 16 1. Simple 17 Simple: exclusion & priori(sa(on •  ‘ Weed out superfluous and tangen$al elements’ – easy •  ‘Weeding out ideas that may be really important but just aren’t the most important idea’ -­‐ hard 18 Why is ‘simple’ difficult? 19 Decision paralysis 20 But how does complexity emerge from simplicity? 21 Finding the Lead 22 The inverted pyramid 23 2. Unexpectedness 24 Imagine driving past the farm fields and seeing this 25 Imagine driving past the farm fields and seeing this 26 27 3. Concreteness 28 Real lives, real people, real numbers •  Providing case studies (but selec$vely, just to demonstrate the point) 29 4. Credibility 30 5. Emo(on 31 6. Story 32 Checklist SUCCESs Scorecard Message Simple x Unexpected -­‐ Concrete X Credible X Emo$onal -­‐ Story X 33 Presenta(on Outline 1.  Wri$ng for policy-­‐makers: key strategies 2.  Crea$ng a policy story and making your ideas ‘s$ck’ 3. Different types of policy briefs and their main func(ons 4.  ‘Dos and don’ts’ of policy briefs 5.  Turning a research paper into a policy brief 34 Different lengths •  One-­‐page brief •  Two to four-­‐page brief •  Longer briefs (5-­‐10 pages) 35 Here is an example of two to four-­‐ page brief 36 37 38 Where we are 1.  Wri$ng for policy-­‐makers: key strategies 2.  Crea$ng a policy story and making your ideas ‘s$ck’ 3.  Different types of policy briefs and their main func$ons 4. ‘Dos and don’ts’ of policy briefs 5.  Turning a research paper into a policy brief 39 Think about your policy story early on 40 Ask yourself: what is your core message? 41 How is your research linked to the policy context? 42 Think of how could you reduce your paper by at least 50% 43 Create interes(ng and ac(on-­‐
oriented (tles and headings 44 45 46 Keep it simple, keep it calm 47 Avoid distrac$ons 48 49 50 Help your focus on your core message Help your reader focus on only your core message 51 Where we are 1.  Wri$ng for policy-­‐makers: key strategies 2.  Crea$ng a policy story and making your ideas ‘s$ck’ 3.  Different types of policy briefs and their main func$ons 4.  ‘Dos and don’ts’ of policy briefs 5.  Turning a research paper into a policy brief 52 Policy Brief Template 53 Abstract •  Length: 10% of the overall length of your policy brief •  Should answer following ques(ons – why is the topic relevant for the target audience (policymakers/media/academia)? What is the main argument (which policy is flawed or problema$c)? What is policy solu$on/
recommenda$on? 54 Introduc(on •  Length: 10-­‐15% of the overall length of your policy brief •  Highlights the urgency of the issue discussed in the policy brief. Gives a brief overview of the conclusion and key recommenda$ons, the outline/direc$on of the rest of the brief. 55 Sec(on 1: methodology •  Length: 5-­‐10% of the overall length of your policy brief •  It should be very brief. It is designed to strengthen the credibility of the brief by explaining how the findings and recommenda$ons were arrived at. •  This sec$on may be omiced, as it not always applicable or necessary to have it in a policy brief. 56 Sec(on 2: results & conclusions •  Length: 30% of the overall length of your policy brief •  Designed as an overview of the findings/facts. Constructed around the line(s) of argument behind the policy recommenda$ons. 57 Sec(on 3: implica(ons & recommenda(ons •  Length: 30% of the overall length of your policy brief •  Usually limited to three implica$ons or recommenda$ons. •  Recommenda$ons, which are direct and clear sugges$ons for ac$on, are preferred, but less direct implica$on may be more appropriate depending on the policy context. 58 Sec(on 3: implica(ons & recommenda(ons •  Length: 30% of the overall length of your policy brief •  Usually limited to three implica$ons or recommenda$ons. •  Recommenda$ons, which are direct and clear sugges$ons for ac$on, are preferred, but less direct implica$on may be more appropriate depending on the policy context. 59 Concluding remarks •  Length: 10% of the overall length of your policy brief •  This sec$on may be omiced if the preceding one addresses some of the concluding points. •  If included, this sec$on should focus on ‘so what’ ques$on. What is the overall core message of the research that is most useful to the main audience? 60 Sources of further reading •  Helps readers find out more on the issue if they require more informa$on. •  Keep references to a minimum (no more than 10% of the policy brief), but include seminar pieces of work on the issue. 61 Graphs and Figures •  Use figures selec$vely to stress the core points made in the text •  Use up to 2 figures per brief 62 Keep in mind the length of each sec(on of the policy brief 10% 30% 10% Results & Conclusions Implica$ons & Recommenda$ons Abstract 10% Introduc$on Concluding remarks Sources or further reading 10% 30% 63 Addi(onal reading •  McCandless, D., (2009) Informa/on is beau/ful. London: HarperCollins. •  Miller, R.B., Williams, G.A. and Hayashi A.M., (2007) The five paths to persuasion.London: Kogan Page Limited. •  Moon, J., (2008) How to make an impact. Harlow: Pearson Educa$on Limited. •  Navarro, J (ed.) (2008) What every body is saying. New York: HarperCollins. •  Steel, J. (2007) Perfect Pitch. The art of selling ideas and winning new business. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. •  Tuoe, E.R., (2007) The visual display of quan/ta/ve informa/on. 2nd edn. Cheshire, Connec$cut: Graphics Press LLC. •  Zelazny, G., (2001) Say it with charts. 4th edn. McGraw-­‐Hill. 64 Links to images 1 • 
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Wri$ng a policy brief hcp://www.mrcltd.org.au/research/main-­‐image.jpg Dissemina$on hcp://api.ning.com/files/hpf*xOTebDs-­‐
F23o6FETZ3j*3sNiONWjfXjTJCzprPjU5bS1WJoGgWBjMPIOiQkm3SbZ41ijncrJ4K2aT-­‐6dM9QURwHK3led/
Dissemina$on2.jpg?crop=1%3A1&width=171 Research glasses hcp://www.leichtmanresearch.com/images/research_glasses.jpg Shine through hcp://www.poetryoflife.com/wp-­‐content/uploads/2009/07/let-­‐the-­‐light-­‐shine-­‐
through-­‐300x225.jpg Who is the audience hcp://www.google.co.uk/imgres?
hl=en&tbo=d&biw=1093&bih=479&tbm=isch&tbnid=iZwQztoJ3BGeSM:&imgrefurl=hcp://hcp://
www.bri$shecologicalsociety.org/images/policy/word_cloud.jpg Busy policymaker hcp://partnersinexcellenceblog.com/wp-­‐content/uploads/2011/09/Time-­‐Pressure-­‐and-­‐
Mul$tasking-­‐681x1024.jpg Policy s$ckers hcp://s$ckyfaith.org/uploads/general/post-­‐its-­‐campaign.jpg A bird in one hand hcp://www.chineseenglish.com/wp-­‐content/uploads/2009/11/bird-­‐in-­‐hand.jpg Example of a sliced bread hcp://slicedbreadmag.com/storage/Sliced%20Bread.JPG Made to s$ck book hcp://marketware.com/ wp-­‐content/uploads/2012/04/Made-­‐to-­‐S$ck-­‐6-­‐Guidelines.jpg Core hcp://www.lbl.gov/Science-­‐Ar$cles/Archive/assets/images/2003/May-­‐09-­‐2003/Core_poster.gif Finding the lead hcp://www.heruni.com/wp-­‐content/uploads/2011/10/journalism.jpg Decision paralysis hcp://www.ideachampions.com/weblogs/decision.jpg The curse of knowledge hcp://cdn.business2community.com/wp-­‐content/uploads/2012/05/curse-­‐of-­‐
knowledge.png Complexity versus simplicity hcp://b.vimeocdn.com/ts/123/631/123631397_640.jpg Unexpectedness (baby) hcp://joshuahoover.com/wp-­‐content/uploads/2007/08/surprised_baby.jpg?9d7bd4 65 Links to images 2 • 
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Regular cows hcp://sta$c.guim.co.uk/sys-­‐images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/08/26/cows460x276.jpg Purple cow hcp://jephmaystruck.com/wp-­‐content/uploads/2011/07/purple-­‐cow.jpg The knowledge gap hcp://sdsujms408sp2011gp14.wikispaces.com/file/view/knowledge_gap_2.jpg/207922544/
knowledge_gap_2.jpg Concreteness hcp://sta$c.dezeen.com/uploads/2009/08/concrete-­‐things-­‐by-­‐komplot-­‐design-­‐for-­‐nola-­‐12.jpg Case studies (real lives) hcp://www.harbinson-­‐mulholland.com/uploaded_files/casestudies.jpg Credibility hcp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_QXRm8WxqwVE/TJetGkhvrKI/AAAAAAAAJSA/eSB-­‐NLjXGh0/s1600/online-­‐
credibility.jpg Emo$ons hcp://researchsense.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/emo$ons1.jpg What’s your story hcp://www.readersdigest.co.in/userfiles/whats_your_story_off.jpg Fairly tale hcp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-­‐Vwh9D1eAGCw/T_sW_InNvtI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/dlU73IcBNsg/s1600/fairy
+tale.jpg Policy lab hcp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-­‐Vwh9D1eAGCw/T_sW_InNvtI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/dlU73IcBNsg/s1600/fairy+tale.jpg Calm view hcp://images.yourdic$onary.com/images/defini$ons/lg/calm.jpg Do not disturb hcp://workawesome.com/wp-­‐content/uploads/2010/04/dnd.jpg Focus on core message hcp://www.runmyownthink.com/images/blog/top-­‐8-­‐ways-­‐to-­‐avoid-­‐
distrac$ons-­‐20121015142356.jpg Mismatch hcp://www.directortom.com/storage/square%20peg.jpg?
__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1223602138853 Success model hcp://www.pamil-­‐visions.net/wp-­‐content/uploads/2009/07/succes.jpg 66 Links to images 3 • 
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The Euro: hcp://en.rian.ru/images/17527/05/175270591.jpg (23/01/2013) The parliament: hcp://taiwantoday.tw/public/data/19281526371.jpg EU debates: hcp://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?mode=displayPicture&photoId=5886 UN debates: hcp://www.dw.de/image/0,,2788460_4,00.jpg Press: hcp://tweepi.com/blog/wp-­‐content/uploads/2011/10/Press-­‐ithinkedcom.jpg Researchers: hcp://gtresearchnews.gatech.edu/images/tdpn12.jpg Key message: hcp://www.gwoltal.myfastmail.com/files/Message%20In%20Bocle 67 Thank you for par(cipa(ng! For further informa$on, please contact Svitlana Kobzar [email protected] 68 Questions?
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Contacts
•  Dr Svitlana Kobzar
[email protected]
•  Neha Sinha
[email protected]
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Thank you!
We look forward to your comments.
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