Abstract
Despite the wide use of research reports as part of policy decision-making, for most scholars, academic publications (peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes or monographs) are the primary outlet for discussing evidence. Transposing evidence into specific policy reports therefore poses a challenge. This chapter specifically addresses the characteristics, advantages and difficulties involved in writing policy research reports. The chapter aims to fill a gap in policy analysis literature by combining insights into the logic and structure of policy research reports, as well as by providing specific guidelines for planning and writing them. The first part of the chapter contextualizes the increased use of policy research reports. The second part discusses the difficulties involved in translating academic research into comprehensible reports. The third and main part of the chapter deals with the actual structuring and writing of a policy report, presented in four different phases. Two cases of existing media research, a stakeholder consultation on impartiality of the Flemish public broadcaster, and a large-scale assessment of policy measures for audiovisual industries, are referred to as illustrative cases throughout the chapter.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Bach, I., & Flinders, M. (2004). Multi-level governance. Oxford: Oxford Scholarship Online.
Bardach, E. (1996). The eight step path of policy analysis: A handbook for practice. Berkeley: Berkeley Academic Press.
Bunea, A., & Thomson, R. (2015). Consultations with interest groups and the empowerment of executives: Evidence from the European Union. Governance: An International Journal of Policy, Administration, and Institutions, 28(4), 517–531.
Caeti. (2002). Policy research paper: Points to ponder (online). Retrieved from http://www.unt.edu/cjus/ponderp.htm.
Cairney, P. (2016). The politics of evidence-based policymaking. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Caulley, D. N. (2008). Making qualitative research reports less boring: The techniques of writing creative nonfiction. Qualitative Inquiry, 14(3), 424–449.
Dunn, W. (2012). Public policy analysis (4th ed.). London: Pearson.
Econopolis. (2017). Doorlichting van het Vlaams Audiovisueel Beleid. Eindrapport. Studie iov. Minister voor Media en Departement Cultuur, Jeugd, Sport en Media. Wilrijk: Econopolis.
Freedman, D. (2008). The politics of media policy. Cambridge: Polity.
Horowitz, I. L., & Katz, J. E. (1975). Social science and public policy in the United States. L.A.: Praeger.
Koretz, D. (1982). Developing useful evaluation: A case history and some practical guidelines. New directions for program equation (No. 14). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Lavis, J., Robertson, D., Woodside, J. M., McLeod, C. B., & Abelson, J. (2003). How can research organizations more effectively transfer research knowledge to decision makers? Milbank Quarterly, 81(2), 221–248.
Lee, M. & Belohlav, K. (2014). Communicating research to policymakers: Researchers’ experiences. Research brief. Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau.
Majchrzak, A. (1984). Methods for policy research. London: Sage.
Majchrzak, A., & Markus, M. L. (2014). Methods for policy research. London: Sage.
Mitton, C., Adair, C. E., McKenzie, E., Patten, S. B., & Waye Perry, B. (2007). Knowledge transfer and exchange: Review and synthesis of the literature. Milbank Quarterly, 85(4), 729–768.
Okaka, W., Nagasha, I. J., & Ayikoru (Eds.). (2016). Communicating policy, research and development. Communication for sustainable development.
Raats, T. (2015). ‘Een brede(r)(e) blik?’ Onderzoek naar de onpartijdigheid van de VRT. Onderzoek in opdracht van VRT Strategie (Undisclosed Report). Brussels: iMinds-SMIT en VRT.
Smith, A., & Robbins, A. E. (1982). Structured ethnography: The study of parental involvement. American Behavioral Scientist, 26(1), 45–61.
Webster, S., Lewis, J., & Brown, A. (2013). Ethical considerations in qualitative research. In J. Ritchie, J. Lewis, C. McNaughton Nicholls, & R. Ormston (Eds.), Qualitative research practice. London: Sage.
White, C., Woodfield, K., Ritchie, J., & Ormston, R. (2013). Writing up qualitative research. In J. Ritchie, J. Lewis, C. McNaughton Nicholls, & R. Ormston (Eds.), Qualitative research practice. London: Sage.
Young, E., & Quinn, L. (2002). Writing effective public policy papers: A guide for policy advisers in Central and Eastern Europe (p. 121). Budapest: Open Society Institute and Local Government Public Service Reform Initiative.
Further Reading
Caulley, D. N. (2008). Making qualitative research reports less boring: The techniques of writing creative nonfiction. Qualitative Inquiry, 14(3), 424–449.
Majone, G. (1989). Evidence, argument and persuasion in the policy process. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Williams, J. (2008). Style: Lessons in clarity and grace. New York: HarperCollins.
White Papers Guidelines. (2015). Retrieved at https://www-cdn.law.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/White-Papers-Guidelines.pdf.
Young, E., & Quinn, L. (2002). Writing effective public policy papers: A guide for policy advisers in Central and Eastern Europe. Budapest: Open Society Institute and Local Government Public Service Reform Initiative.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Raats, T. (2019). Writing Policy Reports. In: Van den Bulck, H., Puppis, M., Donders, K., Van Audenhove, L. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Methods for Media Policy Research. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16065-4_35
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16065-4_35
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-16064-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-16065-4
eBook Packages: Literature, Cultural and Media StudiesLiterature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)