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Single Conversations Expand Practitioners’ Use of Research: Evidence from a Field Experiment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2021

Adam Seth Levine Open the ORCID record for Adam Seth Levine [Opens in a new window]
Adam Seth Levine*
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Johns Hopkins University
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Abstract

Many people seek to increase practitioners’ use of research evidence in decision making. Two common strategies are dissemination and interaction. Dissemination can reach a wide audience at once, yet interactive strategies can be beneficial because they entail back-and-forth conversations to clarify how research evidence applies in a particular context. To date, however, we lack much direct evidence of the impact of interaction beyond dissemination. Partnering with an international sustainability-oriented NGO, I conducted a field experiment to test the impact of an interactive strategy (i.e., a single conversation) on practitioners’ use of research evidence in a pending decision. I find that the conversation had a substantial impact on research use relative to only receiving disseminated materials, which likely was due to increased self-efficacy. I also provide practical guidance on how researchers can apply this finding close to home by strengthening linkages with local decision makers.

Type
Article
Information
PS: Political Science & Politics , Volume 54 , Issue 3 , July 2021 , pp. 432 - 437
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the American Political Science Association

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