LIST OF PANELS

The increasing availability of digital textual data along with advancements in natural language processing (NLP) have opened new avenues for policy process research. Traditional policy studies often rely on qualitative techniques that are effort-intensive and time-consuming. In contrast, the integration of NLP could allow for systematic, large-scale analysis of textual data, potentially leading to novel insights, more robust findings, and comparative analyses.

However, the application of NLP in policy process research presents several challenges. First, there is a limited understanding of whether/which NLP methods can be effectively utilized to address specific research questions in policy studies. Second, methodological issues such as data quality, specialized vocabulary, and diverse languages could pose hurdles for scholars. Third, ethical considerations related to data privacy and algorithmic biases require careful attention.

The aim of this panel is to advance scholarship on the use of NLP in policy process research by addressing these challenges. We invite submissions that engage with theoretical, methodological, or empirical aspects of using NLP for policy studies.

Research questions that fall within the scope of this panel include—but are not limited to—the following:

- How might NLP techniques be effectively applied to analyze policy-relevant text for policy process research?
- Which methodological innovations might facilitate more widespread use of NLP techniques in policy studies?
- How might NLP techniques help understand the dynamics of agenda setting, policy formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation?
- Which theories of the policy process are amenable to the use of NLP techniques?
- How does the integration of NLP techniques affect the reproducibility, scalability, and transparency of policy process research?
 

By exploring these, the panel seeks to advance scholarship in policy process research as well as computational social science.

We invite students, early career researchers, and experienced scholars to submit papers engaging with a research question (whether posed above or not) on the theme of using natural language processing in policy process research. We are particularly interested in submissions that challenge conventional methodologies, introduce innovative applications, or investigate understudied contexts in policy studies.

Both theoretical and empirical studies are welcome, but the focus should be on contributing to the debate on integrating NLP into policy research. Submissions that provide a critical reflection on the limitations and ethical implications of using NLP in policy research are also welcome.