Research in the Service of Policy Change

Abstract

In this article we provide an example of some ways in which research can be used in the policy change process, using the issue of custody relinquishment ("the custody problem") as an example. Our view is that research findings alone rarely cause needed policy change; however, research can be used to inform policy in a number of ways: (a) identifying and describing the nature and extent of an issue or social problem, (b) revealing the negative consequences of the identified problem, (c) estimating the consequences of various strategies, and (d) studying the process and outcomes of policy implementation. In the case studies profiled here, research was most effective when combined with family stories.The stories gave the problem life, and the research helped find families with stories to tell, established that the problem was more than anecdotal, and suggested ways that the problem could be addressed. Research was also used to identify problems in the implementation of policy change and outcomes.