Review of Policy Research · 2012 · 19 citations · 51 references
Public AffairsHealth PolicyPublic PolicyEvidence-based PracticePolicy AnalysisScience PolicyClinical TrialsDissemination Of Research FindingsEvidence-based PolicymakingRandomized Controlled TrialsResearch PolicyScientific EvidenceAgency Reliance On Scientific EvidenceEvidence Informed PolicyKnowledge UtilizationScience Advice To GovernmentScience Advice To PolicymakersScience Communication For PolicyScientific Evidence EvaluationScientific Research Governance
Abstract Consultation of scientific evidence by policy actors has been the foci of attention of knowledge utilization scholars for decades. The present study questioned the extent to which randomized controlled trials ( RCT s)—generally seen as the gold standard of scientific research—are known and consulted by policy analysts in ministerial settings. Using cross‐sectional data collected in 17 ministries in Q uébec ( C anada), our study showed that fairly high levels of policy analysts report never having heard of RCT s, thus possibly hindering effective communication of scientific results to relevant policy makers. Statistical analyses reveal the importance of cognitive factors in explaining both phenomena.
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