Public Policy and Higher Education: Strategies for Framing a Research Agenda

Book excerpt: Conducting “policy relevant” research remains elusive yet important since evidence-based policymaking results in better public policy decisions. But how can this be done? What are some promising practices to help make academic scholarship more policy relevant? This monograph provides strategies that—when addressed—should improve the chances of a study becoming relevant to policy audiences. It provides: practical examples, theoretical perspectives, discussions of key stakeholders, and promising research strategies for framing work in policy relevant ways. By being more intentional about the policy relevance of our work and connecting research with emerging policy debates, we can increase the likelihood that future policy solutions will be evidence-based and informed by the most recent and rigorous research in our field. This the 2nd issue of the 41st volume of the Jossey-Bass series ASHE Higher Education Report. Each monograph is the definitive analysis of a tough higher education issue, based on thorough research of pertinent literature and institutional experiences. Topics are identified by a national survey. Noted practitioners and scholars are then commissioned to write the reports, with experts providing critical reviews of each manuscript before publication.