Policy Research: An Overview of Methods and Resources - Endiartia

Policy research: An overview of methods and resources

Policy research is a systematic process of gathering and analyzing information to answer questions and develop solutions to problems within the sphere of influence of a government, non-profit organization, or corporation. Conducting policy research requires the use of various methods and resources to gather information and data, and to analyze and draw conclusions. This article provides an overview of policy research methods and resources to help guide individuals and organizations in their research efforts.

Introduction: What is Policy Research?

Policy research is a systematic process of gathering information, analyzing it, and developing a solution to a problem. The goal of policy research is to inform decision-making by providing a clear understanding of the issue and the potential impact of proposed policy changes.

The policy research process typically begins with defining the problem or question that needs to be answered. Next, a literature review is conducted to gather information on the issue. This includes academic and government sources, as well as any relevant data or statistics. After the literature review, data is collected through surveys, interviews, focus groups, or other methods of study.

The collected data is analyzed and conclusions are drawn to answer the original question or solve the original problem. Finally, recommendations are made for policy change based on the findings of the research.

How to Conduct Policy Research

Policy research requires the use of a variety of methods to gather and analyze information. The two main types of policy research methods are quantitative and qualitative methods.

Quantitative methods involve the use of measurement tools and statistical techniques to analyze numerical data gathered through surveys and polls, registry studies, administrative records, or experiments. These methods are often binary and provide a straightforward answer to a question.

Qualitative methods, on the other hand, are more subjective. These methods are focused on understanding the perspectives and experiences of individuals or members of a group. Qualitative research methods include interviewing, participant observation, and ethnography, among others. The data collected through qualitative methods are typically descriptive, rather than numerical, and provide insight into the perspectives and experiences of those studied.

Reliable Resources for Conducting Policy Research

There are many resources available for conducting policy research. The most reliable way to find the right sources of information is to ask a professor or someone who has conducted policy research before. However, several popular resources are widely used by researchers.

Some of the most popular resources for conducting policy research include Google Scholar, LexisNexis Academic, JSTOR, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost.

Google Scholar is a widely used resource for conducting policy research. The service provides a variety of functions, including keyword searches and the ability to find relevant articles and data with just a few clicks.

LexisNexis Academic is another popular resource for policy research. It provides access to a database of law, news, and business information, including the full text of over 2,000 newspapers from around the world, historical documents, and primary sources such as speeches and transcripts of trials.

JSTOR is a valuable resource for policy research, particularly for those focused on European Union policy. JSTOR contains a wide variety of articles from journals and magazines, as well as primary sources such as speeches, transcripts of trials, and news articles.

ProQuest has a massive database of resources for those conducting policy research. They offer access to thousands of academic journals, magazines, and newspapers, as well as primary sources such as speeches, transcripts, and historical documents.

EBSCOhost is another popular resource for policy research. It provides access to a wide range of academic journals, magazines, and newspapers, as well as primary sources such as speeches, transcripts, and historical documents. EBSCOhost also offers various tools to help users find the most relevant information for their research, including keyword searching, subject browsing, and advanced search options.

Aside from these online resources, it is also important to utilize government sources such as the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), the U.S. Census Bureau, and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). These organizations provide access to various data and statistics that are useful for conducting policy research.

Conclusion:

Policy research is a vital tool for informing decision-making in government, non-profit organizations, and corporations. The process of conducting policy research requires the use of various methods and resources, including quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as reliable sources such as Google Scholar, LexisNexis Academic, JSTOR, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost. By utilizing these resources and methods, individuals and organizations can effectively gather and analyze information to answer questions and solve problems in the realm of policy.