LIST OF PANELS

Interest in the role that evidence, knowledge and expertise can play in decision-making (by which we mean public policy and public service practice decisions) is growing worldwide, with many countries trialing infrastructure for mobilising evidence in policy and practice at national, regional and local levels (MacKillop & Downe, 2023).

And yet, there is still little research outside of health which demonstrates what aids evidence utilization and whether evidence has a positive impact on decision-making. In particular, examples of good quality empirical research illustrating how, why and which forms of research-policy engagement or knowledge mobilisation/brokerage practices work in particular contexts are needed in order for governments to determine whether to invest further into such initiatives and approaches (Bornbaum et al, 2015; Durrant et al, 2024; Neal et al, 2023). Another key area needing more research is the impact of knowledge mobilisation and evidence on decision-making and outcomes, and the challenges, implications and limitations involved (Oliver et al, 2022; Smith & Stewart, 2017).

This panel will draw together research from different contexts and perspectives (e.g., policy fields, geographical areas, and methodological approaches) to examine knowledge mobilisation and build better understanding of the practices it involves and impact it has.

We welcome papers that advance understanding of these topics, providing either new empirical, theoretical, methodological, or comparative insights. The two research questions at the heart of this panel are:
o What is the impact of knowledge mobilisation on evidence use in decision-making?
o What are the key practices of knowledge mobilisation that lead to impact on decision-making?

Other related questions include:
o What practices of knowledge mobilisation have been developed and implemented in different countries or contexts?
o Who is involved in developing and implementing different practices of knowledge mobilisation?
o What does the evaluations of knowledge mobilisation practices tell us about whether they work in informing policy and practice? 
o What can we learn from knowledge mobilisation across different policy areas or geographical areas? In other words, how do practices of knowledge mobilisation relate to the context in which they are implemented?
o How do different political systems and cultures influence what counts as evidence and how evidence is used?
o What innovative methods are currently being used in different countries to measure the impact of evidence use?
o What methods exist that can help make sense of how evidence/knowledge mobilisation interacts with decision-making? E.g., theory of change, models of impact, tools and processes?

References:
Bornbaum, C.C., Kornas, K., Peirson, L. et al. (2015). Exploring the function and effectiveness of knowledge brokers as facilitators of knowledge translation in health-related settings: a systematic review and thematic analysis. Implementation Sci, 10: 162.

Durrant, H., Havers, R., Downe, J., and Martin, S. (2024). Improving evidence use: a systematic scoping review of local models of knowledge mobilisation. Evidence & Policy, 20 (3): 370-392.

MacKillop, E., and Downe, J. (2023). Knowledge brokering organisations: a new way of governing evidence. Evidence & Policy, 19 (1): 22-41.

Neal, J. W., Posner, S., and Brutzman, B. (2023). Understanding brokers, intermediaries, and boundary spanners: a multi-sectoral review of strategies, skills, and outcomes. Evidence & Policy, 19(1): 95-115.

Oliver, K., Hopkins, A., Boaz, A., Guillot-Wright, S., and Cairney, P. (2022). What works to promote research-policy engagement?. Evidence & Policy, 18 (4): 691-713.

Smith, K.E. and Stewart, E. (2017). We Need to Talk about Impact: Why Social Policy Academics need to Engage with the UK’s Research Impact Agenda, Journal of Social Policy, 46(1): 109–127.

Interest in the role that evidence, knowledge and expertise can play in decision-making (by which we mean public policy and public service practice decisions) is growing worldwide, with many countries trialing infrastructure for mobilising evidence in policy and practice at national, regional and local levels. And yet, there is still little research outside of health which demonstrates what aids evidence utilization and whether evidence has a positive impact on decision-making.

This panel will draw together research from different contexts and perspectives (e.g., policy fields, geographical areas, and theoretical and methodological approaches) to examine knowledge mobilisation and build better understanding of the practices it involves and impact it has. The two research questions at the heart of this panel are:
o What is the impact of knowledge mobilisation on evidence use in decision-making?
o What are the key practices of knowledge mobilisation that lead to impact on decision-making?

Other related questions include:
o What practices of knowledge mobilisation have been developed and implemented in different countries or contexts?
o Who is involved in developing and implementing different practices of knowledge mobilisation?
o What does the evaluations of knowledge mobilisation practices tell us about whether they work in informing policy and practice?
o What can we learn from knowledge mobilisation across different policy areas or geographical areas? In other words, how do practices of knowledge mobilisation relate to the context in which they are implemented?
o How do different political systems and cultures influence what counts as evidence and how evidence is used?
o What innovative methods are currently being used in different countries to measure the impact of evidence use?
o What methods exist that can help make sense of how evidence/knowledge mobilisation interacts with decision-making? E.g., theory of change, models of impact, tools and processes?