Measuring Policy Change with Reseacrh, You need to try it

Capturing Policy change as it really is in Research

Research as we all know it today is an important part of our lives in unveiling some of the most important questions to do with society. Society dear friends is always dynamic, and things are not always what it seems until you do an in depth research to uncover the answers and mysteries behind what is and what may have been. One of the many things which affects us all is policy. Yes folks, policies implemented or past by the government of the day can shape the direction in which society may pass. Take for instance some policies to do with the tax bracket for different income levels of a countries citizens. Many times, you find mixed feelings about what kind of tax the rich folks should be paying and what the poor shouldn't. If you come to think of it, many will have their own personal justification as to why certain decisions mustn't be past while others shouldn't. However, you see the truth about policy is that usually a research can provide the necessary answers that society and state may be looking for. But how really is research used in research and how can it be used to measure change?

Research and Policy, how they tie

Policy at state level is about passing a guide or principle which should be followed by everyone....more like legislation. When government for instance decides to ban the export of a certain good out of the country, alot of economists will come out in the open explaining why government should and why they shouldnt. Here is how research can basically help.

1)Development of a policy proposal; Research can help develop a policy proposal. You see, before a policy can be developed there is need for adequate understanding of what could be the short-term, medium-term and long-term implications of passing such a certain decision. When a research is conducted the findings can help develop a policy position or proposal that can be submitted to the government with the hope that it can be adopted in future.

2) After adoption of a policy; After adoption of a policy proposal, there are still mixed feelings as to whether the policy enactment even achieved its intended purpose or left citizens of a country better off than before. A research can answer all those questions if approached in the right way and manner. The research recommendations can be useful in hopefully reversing such a decision in the long run.

Measuring policy change, the reality

Measuring the effects and impacts of policy is not an easy thing in research because usually policy takes time to really get to see the effects of a certain decision. However, research can really be useful in tracking any existing gaps and challenges with the existing implementation of a certain policy. More like monitoring or tracking the progress of a policy and the effects its having on society. Research can look at the following in an existing policy such as the following namely;

1) Research can identify gaps and challenges in the existing policy implementation
2) Research can help provide recommendations to government how a policy should be implemented.
3) Research can be useful in developing measurable and realistic policy indicators
4) Research can be useful in informing the public of the certain benefits to a certain decision made by the government.