Discovering the evidence that impacts policy: How to construct a research effort that results in a journal article publication

Abstract

The goal of any “applied” research effort should be to contribute to the pool of facts needed to make social policy founded on truth. Policy-makers in the public sector engage in a decision process guided by this pool of facts, based on research, which is found in peer-reviewed journal articles of each discipline. The creation of articles in that pool is the subject of this paper. Here we outline the steps that lead from beginning of an identified research need to a finished publication in a peer-reviewed journal. As a researcher follows these steps, she or he is not only contributing to the knowledge-base, but forming a body of evidence needed to effectively challenge opinions that are based on non-scientific observations and experiences. Additionally, she or he is benefiting the greater good by possibly providing evidence for defending a course of action under consideration. Therefore, as policy makers confront problems and issues that require policy action, they can be confident that the information at their disposal is current, and based on unbiased truth.