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Typical quantitative evaluations of public policies treat policies as a binary condition, without further attention to how policies are implemented. However, policy implementation plays an important role in how the policy impacts behavioral and health outcomes. The field of policy-focused implementation science is beginning to consider how policy implementation may be conceptualized in quantitative analyses (e.g., as a mediator or moderator), but less work has considered how to measure policy implementation for inclusion in quantitative work. To help address this gap, we discuss four design considerations for researchers interested in developing or identifying measures of policy implementation using three independent NIH-funded research projects studying e-cigarette, food, and mental health policies. Mini case studies of these considerations were developed via group discussions; we used the implementation research logic model to structure our discussions. Design considerations include (1) clearly specifying the implementation logic of the policy under study, (2) developing an interdisciplinary team consisting of policy practitioners and researchers with expertise in quantitative methods, public policy and law, implementation science, and subject matter knowledge, (3) using mixed methods to identify, measure, and analyze relevant policy implementation determinants and processes, and (4) building flexibility into project timelines to manage delays and challenges due to the real-world nature of policy. By applying these considerations in their own work, researchers can better identify or develop measures of policy implementation that fit their needs. The experiences of the three projects highlighted in this paper reinforce the need for high-quality and transferrable measures of policy implementation, an area where collaboration between implementation scientists and policy experts could be particularly fruitful. These measurement practices provide a foundation for the field to build on as attention to incorporating measures of policy implementation into quantitative evaluations grows and will help ensure that researchers are developing a more complete understanding of how policies impact health outcomes.

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Industrial product e-commerce refers to the specific application of the e-commerce concept in industrial product transactions. It enables industrial enterprises to conduct transactions via Internet platforms and reduce circulation and operating costs. Industrial literature, such as policies, reports, and standards related to industrial product e-commerce, contains much crucial information. Through a systematical analysis of this information, we can explore and comprehend the development characteristics and trends of industrial product e-commerce. To this end, 18 policy documents, 10 industrial reports, and five standards are analyzed by employing text-mining methods. Firstly, natural language processing (NLP) technology is utilized to pre-process the text data related to industrial product commerce. Then, word frequency statistics and TF-IDF keyword extraction are performed, and the word frequency statistics are visually represented. Subsequently, the feature set is obtained by combining these processes with the manual screening method. The original text corpus is used as the training set by employing the skip-gram model in Word2Vec, and the feature words are transformed into word vectors in the multi-dimensional space. The K-means algorithm is used to cluster the feature words into groups. The latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) method is then utilized to further group and discover the features. The text-mining results provide evidence for the development characteristics and trends of industrial product e-commerce in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balancing speed and quality during crises pose challenges for ensuring the value and utility of data in social science research. The COVID-19 pandemic in particular underscores the need for high-quality data and rapid dissemination. Given the importance of behavioural measures and compliance with measures to contain the pandemic, social science research has played a key role in policymaking during this global crisis. This study addresses two key research questions: How FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) are social science data on the COVID-19 pandemic? Which study features are related to the level of FAIRness scores of datasets? We assess the FAIRness of n = 1131 articles, retrieved through a keyword search in the Web of Science database, employing both automated and manual coding methods. Our study inclusion criteria encompass empirical studies on the COVID-19 pandemic published between 2019 and 2023 with a social science focus and explicit reference to the underlying dataset(s). Our analysis of n = 45 datasets reveals substantial differences in FAIRness for different types of research on the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall FAIRness of data is acceptable, although particularly Reusability scores fall short, in both the manual and the automatic assessment. Further, articles explicitly linked to the Social Science concept in the OpenAlex database exhibit a higher mean overall FAIRness value. Based on these results, we derive recommendations for balancing ethical obligations and the potential tradeoff between speed and data (sharing) quality in social-scientific crisis research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the health, economic, and sense of well-being of many nations worldwide, drastically changing and disrupting the daily lives of everyone in all levels of society. In South Korea, in particular, the pandemic destabilized many businesses, crippled production and services delivery, and debilitated work flows on such a massive scale, leading to high levels of unemployment and production shutdowns rarely experienced by the country before. This prompted the South Korean government to come up with national policies to revitalize the country's plunging levels of productivity by getting the nation's executives, managers, professionals, and labour force back to work by coming out with massive emergency programmes to protect their health, safety, and fitness to work in the midst of the lingering pandemic. In this study that we hope will contribute to the effectiveness of the ongoing national stimulus measures, we conducted a formal evaluation of the initiatives, policies, and efforts undertaken by the South Korean government to reduce the national unemployment rate and spur productivity in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given limited investigation into the state and status of physical education policy research internationally, we suggest there is a need for a more comprehensive empirical review of physical education policy research internationally to inform a future research agenda. The purpose of this scoping review is to map the international peer-reviewed empirical literature detailing policy research in school-based physical education between 2010 and 2020 to understand and make recommendations for extension, where appropriate, of the conceptual boundaries of how to 'do' policy research in this field. We followed a three-phase approach to the scoping review: (i) identifying relevant sources; (ii) charting of sources; and (iii) reporting the findings from the charting of sources. Results were interpreted through two theoretical lenses: (a) Rizvi and Lingard's (2010) framework of policy issues and questions and (b) Diem et al.'s (2014) traditional and critical approaches to educational policy research. Findings are discussed in relation to the charting categories which included: journal; year; affiliations; country of work; funding acknowledgements; research question; policy definition; policy issues; and traditional and/or critical research. We hope this research can be useful to those looking to enter the physical education policy research space, as it introduces them to the research landscape, and to those already engaged in this space looking to fill gaps in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Washington policy research analysts (WAs) monitor political developments and produce research to interpret the impact of these events. We find institutional clients channel more commissions to brokerages providing policy research and commission-allocating institutional clients generate superior returns on their politically sensitive trades. We find that WA policy research reports are associated with significant price and volume reactions. Finally, we find sell-side analysts with access to WA issue superior stock recommendations on politically sensitive stocks. These effects are particularly acute during periods of high political uncertainty. Overall, we uncover a unique and an important conduit through which political information filters into asset prices. This paper was accepted by David Sraer, finance. Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4919. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues related to shadow economy operation in Bulgaria and its socio-economic effects have been constantly a subject of extensive academic research. This was especially valid for the 1990s – the first decade of the market transition and related social, political, and economic reforms. Various studies aimed in understanding the multifaceted nature of undeclared work and its implications on the country's economic system. Policy-oriented research focused on issues concerning policymakers providing insights into the main drivers of the grey economy, enabling the development of targeted measures to address these underlying causes. This perspective is essential in understanding the shadow economy in Bulgaria as a former transition country not as an isolated phenomenon but as an integral part of the economic fabric that requires sophisticated and multifaceted responses. Furthermore, the methodological experience of researchers in monitoring the shadow economy in Bulgaria has evolved significantly, with a blend of statistical and sociological approaches being applied. In this respect, questionnaire surveys applying modern sociological standards as well as both micro- and macro-econometric analyses have been utilized. Particularly, various surveys have been instrumental in informing the policymaking in respect of the support to the national strategy for measuring, restricting, and preventing shadow economic activities. Additionally, the academic literature on the hidden economy in Bulgaria reflects on various socio-economic effects, including social legitimacy and economic expediency, viewing the grey economy as a parallel economic reality composed of life strategies that adapt to, neutralize, or completely ignore formal rules. This review article emphasizes on the complexity of the shadow economy issues in Bulgaria and the need for implementing comprehensive approaches to its study and evaluation. The ongoing academic discourse underscores the importance of continuous research and the adaptation of methodologies to capture the dynamic nature of this phenomenon. Moreover, the hidden economy has implications for tax morale, resulting in lower government revenues and impacting the country's ability to reach the goals of its national development programmes and sustainable growth. Particularly, the focus of the current review is put on a selection of recent studies that provides valuable information beneficial for the justification of different strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of the shadow economy, thereby fostering a more transparent and robust economic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive food waste contributes to the greenhouse effect. Although low-carbon technology has the potential to reduce carbon emissions and generate renewable energy, the high costs may deter the adoption. To promote low-carbon food waste treatment, local authorities could develop carbon reduction policies targeted at the food waste treatment industry, which could lead to a game between local authorities and food waste treatment enterprises. Hence, a bi-level multi-objective optimization model is put forward to balance the decisions of local authorities and those of food waste treatment enterprises. Enterprises can choose which carbon reduction policies to implement, and local authorities determine the intensity of specific policies. After testing this model on Shenzhen’s food waste treatment system, the model’s validity and feasibility were confirmed. It was discovered that by identifying suitable carbon reduction policies, the model can help enterprises achieve more than 50 % carbon reduction. Moreover, different enterprises may choose different carbon reduction policies to implement. Optimal food waste disposal arrangements need flexible adjustments. The constructed model can serve as a decision-making tool for city managers to reduce carbon emissions in food waste treatment.

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has reflected the weaknesses in the already collapsing health systems of the countries. In India, there has been a mass exodus of migrants during the lockdown, witnessed by the world. We undertook a qualitative data analysis to examine the governance arrangements, decision-making processes and implementation of policies during the pandemic in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Methods We did a qualitative study using thematic analysis. The participants (n = 16) were recruited from the district(n = 4), state (n = 6) and centre (n = 6) level using purposive sampling. They participated in in-depth interviews between May 2020-July 2020 by phone/zoom. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and data were analysed using Dedoose software. Ethical approval was obtained from the King George Medical College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, vide registration ECR/262/Inst/UP/2013/RR-19 Findings We recruited participants (15 males and 1 female), and five theme categories emerged from the data analysis. These were: 1) Centralized decision-making with decentralized implementation, 2) Consultative processes for decision-making but little emphasis on consensus building, 3) Informal channels of communication and enhanced intersectoral coordination, 4) Community involvement leading to transparency, and 5) Enhanced inequities during the crisis. Results Lessons learnt from examining governance and decision-making in one state of India reveal the need for reducing inequities and attention to primary ethical considerations in times of humanitarian crisis. Going forward, we need to work towards building resilience into the health system and increasing the role of decentralized participatory decision-making and governance. The use of digital technology and social media platforms greatly facilitated the response during the pandemic and can be capitalized on more in the future as a global health policy matter.

What is required to decolonize policy research in doing knowledge production about Indigenous peoples? Policy studies has been complicit in maintaining a central methodological policy research problem: the ongoing prevalence of hegemonic imperial and colonial knowledge production practices in relation to Indigenous peoples. This problem persists through policy researchers producing anti-Indigenous genocidal native-place-invisibilization in scholarship. Ambiguous relationality is another mechanism through which elimination of the natives takes place in research – it is when researchers deliberately/unintentionally omit naming and visiblizing their positionality in relation to the native-places the researchers are working with. Undoing harms emerging from native-place-invisibilization and ambiguous relationality requires a 'grounded normativity' oriented native place consciousness, naming and visibilization of the native place(s) the researchers work on/with, respecting sovereign Indigenous research jurisdictions, and applying an Indigenous Policy Research Framework (IPRF). Decolonization as a solution to the policy problem being tackled in this paper looks like counter-hegemonic radical redistribution of power back to the community when conducting Indigenous policy research. The IPRF approach is formulated using a literature review methodology and consists of guiding questions and principles to help steward the processes of decolonizing policy research. The aim is to support the emergence of radically restorative research justice practices and repair historically harmful relations between knowledge-producing systems/institutions and the Indigenous communities about whom the knowledge production is done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typical quantitative evaluations of public policies treat policies as a binary condition, without further attention to how policies are implemented. However, policy implementation plays an important role in how the policy impacts behavioral and health outcomes. The field of policy-focused implementation science is beginning to consider how policy implementation may be conceptualized in quantitative analyses (e.g., as a mediator or moderator), but less work has considered how to measure policy implementation for inclusion in quantitative work. To help address this gap, we discuss four design considerations for researchers interested in developing or identifying measures of policy implementation using three independent NIH-funded research projects studying e-cigarette, food, and mental health policies. Mini case studies of these considerations were developed via group discussions; we used the implementation research logic model to structure our discussions. Design considerations include (1) clearly specifying the implementation logic of the policy under study, (2) developing an interdisciplinary team consisting of policy practitioners and researchers with expertise in quantitative methods, public policy and law, implementation science, and subject matter knowledge, (3) using mixed methods to identify, measure, and analyze relevant policy implementation determinants and processes, and (4) building flexibility into project timelines to manage delays and challenges due to the real-world nature of policy. By applying these considerations in their own work, researchers can better identify or develop measures of policy implementation that fit their needs. The experiences of the three projects highlighted in this paper reinforce the need for high-quality and transferrable measures of policy implementation, an area where collaboration between implementation scientists and policy experts could be particularly fruitful. These measurement practices provide a foundation for the field to build on as attention to incorporating measures of policy implementation into quantitative evaluations grows and will help ensure that researchers are developing a more complete understanding of how policies impact health outcomes.

Industrial product e-commerce refers to the specific application of the e-commerce concept in industrial product transactions. It enables industrial enterprises to conduct transactions via Internet platforms and reduce circulation and operating costs. Industrial literature, such as policies, reports, and standards related to industrial product e-commerce, contains much crucial information. Through a systematical analysis of this information, we can explore and comprehend the development characteristics and trends of industrial product e-commerce. To this end, 18 policy documents, 10 industrial reports, and five standards are analyzed by employing text-mining methods. Firstly, natural language processing (NLP) technology is utilized to pre-process the text data related to industrial product commerce. Then, word frequency statistics and TF-IDF keyword extraction are performed, and the word frequency statistics are visually represented. Subsequently, the feature set is obtained by combining these processes with the manual screening method. The original text corpus is used as the training set by employing the skip-gram model in Word2Vec, and the feature words are transformed into word vectors in the multi-dimensional space. The K-means algorithm is used to cluster the feature words into groups. The latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) method is then utilized to further group and discover the features. The text-mining results provide evidence for the development characteristics and trends of industrial product e-commerce in China.

The performance of organizational human resources is established in the form of organizational policy-making. Educational policy-making, along with research policy-making, is a complete individual comprehensiveness in the organization. In today's era, it is not possible to use educational policy-making to achieve the final goals of the organization, so that research policy-making needs to be used along with educational policy. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the policy-research approach along with the educational policy of educational units. The descriptive review study to simultaneously investigate educational policy-making and research policy-making in university departments. A query was conducted on databases in Persian and English from 2014-2022 using the following keywords: Policy-research, policy-research, educational policy, educational policy-making, education, education system, and university education system. As a result of the search and application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 98 articles were retrieved, including the searched texts, books, and documents. Finally, 24 papers were included in the present study. The findings demonstrated that studies with an educational policy approach are clearly better than studies with a research approach in the desired policies. Nonetheless, the integration of educational and research policies has been the leading way of scientific synergy. Modern educational services are not possible without research services; moreover, making educational decisions is not feasible and cost-effective without the use of policy-research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human trafficking in the hotel industry represents a hidden threat that demands decisive action. Despite public commitments, the sector's initiatives remain inconsistent, and a wave of lawsuits imposes both financial and reputational risks. Through analysis of relevant legislation and case law, the article demonstrates hotels' potential liability as venues enabling trafficking. However, inconsistent self-regulation and lawsuits reveal limited progress. The authors advocate for insurance companies to play a pivotal role in combatting human trafficking in the hotel industry by strategically adjusting coverage provisions. They trace the historical influence of insurers on the trajectory of slavery when 18th-century British insurers' actions contributed to the rise of abolitionism and argue that similar private regulation today can incentivize hotels' proactive measures against trafficking. The article proposes that insurers possess diverse tools, including exclusions, premium adjustments, auditing, and loss prevention, to compel action rather than complacency. Mandated self-insured retentions can also hold hotels financially accountable for their negligence. However, relying solely on pricing alterations faces challenges due to market competition and inconsistent judicial rulings on liability exclusions. Ultimately, addressing this complex issue requires a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach. Government fines and prosecutions can further incentivize self-disclosure and cooperation, while publicized settlements can promote transparency and empower consumers to make informed choices for hotel venues. This combined framework can transition hotels from passive enablers to active contributors in the fight against human trafficking, fulfilling their duty of care and catalyzing meaningful progress against human exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emancipation paradox: Emancipation policy as female problem In the Netherlands, there are so called 'emancipation policies', 'emancipation monitors' and 'emancipation ministers' to address gender inequality. This article analyzes how the concept of emancipation emerges as norming policy category in the Netherlands by interpretive research on post-war emancipation policies. Through our analysis, we uncover that although understandings of emancipation evolve over time, public policies perpetuate an implicit norm with policy consequences. Drawing from these findings, we engage in critical reflection on the legitimacy of existing emancipation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This descriptive study reports the early career outcomes of postdoctoral fellows who completed a novel embedded fellowship training program, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Health System Impact (HSI) Fellowship. The program was designed to support impact-oriented career paths of doctoral graduates, build research capacity within health system organizations (HSOs), and help to advance learning health systems (LHSs) in Canada.Methods Employment of fellowship alumni upon completion of the program was tracked using internet searches of publicly accessible online sources and complemented with program survey data.Results Descriptive analyses show that all 87 eligible alumni included in the study are currently employed (100% of 87), with 92% employed in Canada. Their employment spans several sectors, including in academic (37%), public (29%), healthcare delivery (17%), and private (14%) sectors. Altogether, 32% of alumni hold hybrid roles with an affiliation in academia and another sector. The most common position types are senior scientist (42%), professorships (18%), and director, manager or administrator roles (12%). Program reporting data indicate that these employment outcomes are generally consistent with the group’s career aspirations reported at the start of the fellowship program, and that the program receives high ratings from fellows in the extent it is believed to support their career preparedness and readiness (4.49 out of 5).Conclusion This study finds that HSI Fellow alumni are employed mostly in research-related roles in a range of sectors including, but not limited to, academia, and that they positively perceive the program’s success in elevating their career readiness and potential to make an impact – suggesting that the program may help equip fellows with the skills, readiness and networks for contribution in a broad array of employment sectors and roles. The findings are a promising signal of the demand for research talent and the growing capacity for LHSs in Canada.

Background Falls among older adults will cause a heavy burden on society and families. The development of effective falls prevention intervention policies for community-dwelling older adults is an important initiative to address this global public health problem. Objective To analyze and compare the content composition, key initiatives and implementation strategies of current falls prevention intervention policies for community-dwelling older adults in different countries from the perspective of policy tools. Methods Six countries in Asia, North America, and Europe, including Japan, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, Germany, and Russia, were selected as sample countries according to the degree of population aging and economic income level. Refer to the websites of relevant government departments such as the Ministry of Health, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and directly affiliated institutions, as well as websites of nongovernmental organizations, such as Prevention of Falls Network Europe, National Council On Aging, U.S., Association of Fall Prevention, Japan, and National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds, Germany, the national policy documents of prevention interventions for community-dwelling older adults from January 2010 to June 2022 were searched by using "older adults" "fall/drop/accidental injuries" "prevention" as keywords. The text analysis was performed from the dimensions of policy tools such as demand-side type, supply-side type and environmental-side type, and injury prevention strategies such as education prevention strategies and evaluation strategies. Results Among the 24 policy documents, there were 212 coded targets in the dimension of policy tools, with environmental-side type, supply-side type and demand-side type policy tools accounting for 45.3% (96/212), 40.6% (86/212) and 14.1% (30/212), respectively. Among high-income countries, the public service tools under supply-side type policy tools were mostly applied in the United States and Germany, accounting for 40.5% (17/42) and 13.8% (8/58) ; the infrastructure construction tools under supply-side type policy tools were focused in Singapore〔24.1% (7/29) 〕. Among low and middle income countries, the environmental-side type policy tools were mostly applied in Russia and Thailand, accounting for 51.3% (20/39) and 55.6% (10/18), respectively. Public service was mostly applied among the supply-side type policy tools, accounting for 17.5% (37/212) ; technical standard was mostly applied among the environmental-side type policy tools, accounting for 10.8% (23/212) ; medicare payment was mostly applied among the demand-side type policy tools, accounting for 4.7% (10/212). In addition, there were 105 coded targets in the dimension of injury prevention strategies, with the education prevention strategies accounting for the highest proportion of 31.4% (33/105), the engineering strategy accounting for the lowest proportion of 5.7% (6/105). High-income countries are at the stage of multi-sectoral collaborative policy implementation, low and middle income countries are at the stage of policy implementation by the Ministry of Health stage. Conclusion Six countries focus on public service and infrastructure development under supply-side type policy tools; the application of demand-side type policy tools can be summarized as intervention services managed by medical insurance, intervention projects supported by financial funds, service purchases attracted by price subsidies, planning, organization, advocacy, and standard setting of environmental-side type policy tools. In combination with the priorities and specific measures of the six countries, it is suggested to learn from advanced experience in improving public services, strengthening evidence-based projects, standardizing technical standards, supporting financial incentives, expanding medical insurance programs, and providing price subsidies, thus further optimizing falls prevention intervention policies for community-dwelling older adults.

PURPOSE This study presents policy implications drawn from a factual survey on the sports services industry in Korea, aiming to understand its current status and provide systematic support for high growth sectors. METHODS The research involved 600 companies across 18 sports service industry sectors, with growth potential assessed using standardized Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) scores based on indicators such as the number of businesses, employees, sales, business productivity, and labor productivity. RESULTS Results revealed that high-growth sectors were more prominent in the Incheon/Gyeonggi regions, while general sectors showed higher proportions in the Seoul area. Satisfaction with government support programs was above average in high-growth sectors, contrasting with lower satisfaction in general sectors, depending on the criteria. Both high-growth and general sectors faced difficulty securing liquid assets, expressing expectations for government financial support, such as expanded loans. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, a policy for achieving regional balance for sports service industries concentrated in the metropolitan area and differentiation in regional sports service industries is necessary. Through a paradigm shift in business support, the competitiveness of the sports services industry can be enhanced, and comprehensive policies for the domestic sports service industry must be formulated.

The Marshall Decision of Canada's Supreme Court inspired the Mi'kmaq in the 1700s regarding recognizing fishing rights to the Mi'kmaq communities. Despite this recognition, the Mi'kmaq communities did not have access to commercial fisheries due to the denial of absolute recognition of territories and rights and underrepresentation and participation in resource allocation, governance, and decision-making processes. A potential approach to these issues is the development of third-party Indigenous community-based sustainability certification standards for the American lobster (Homarus americanus) commercial fishery of Nova Scotia by Mi'kmaq communities. An Indigenous certification is a market-based tool that focuses on a holistic approach to the sustainability of the resource, followed by independent accreditations and standards. This study identifies the gaps, challenges, and opportunities of Indigenous-based certifications for the American lobster commercial fishery. We adopt a participatory approach to conventional policy analysis and perform a secondary analysis of existing legal and scientific resources to glean valuable information for supporting the establishment of an Indigenous certification for the American lobster. Certification could provide benefits such as increased control over fisheries management, governance, rights, and socioeconomic interest, building capacity for Mi'kmaq communities, and improving stakeholder relationships. However, there are issues with the entry points of certification for Indigenous peoples related primarily to the dominant actors in accreditation. This study will support further research and engagement of the Mi'kmaq people toward developing an Indigenous certification scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Covid-19 pandemic, research organisations have strived to be resilient. This means navigating through the technical, operational, and political challenges to achieving successful research implementation. Particularly for local policy research thinktanks, the pandemic has made these challenges even more difcult to address. From the experience of the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI) in implementing large-sample research in the formal and informal sectors during the pandemic, these challenges are countered through: (1) the incorporation of a technical advisory team; (2) the adoption of a fexible resource allocation strategy; and (3) the implementation of a quality assurance system. Policy research is only impactful when the knowledge produced serves its purpose as evidence to inform policymaking and guide programme intervention. To realise this objective, CDRI implements three types of engagement activities (consultation, coordination, and validation) that provide opportunities for interaction between researchers and relevant stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the influence of research on international mediation. It refutes claims that mediation research has not influenced policy and practice. On the contrary, it shows that the United Nations, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and other policy-makers are not only receptive to mediation research but proactively commission and disseminate research. The article argues that the mediation policy research arena resembles an oligopsony, which is an imperfect competitive market with a small number of important buyers and a large number of sellers. Consequently, transaction power lies with the policymakers, and the policy research arena is geared to meeting their preferences. They have a utilitarian preference for problem-solving research that enhances the effectiveness of mediation. They have a methodological preference for comparative case-studies that include interviews with mediators, and do not regard quantitative analysis as useful. In terms of transmission processes, they favour commissioned research tailored to meet their needs. They expect commissioned research to conform to their norms, serve a specified purpose, reflect a deep understanding of mediation, and make proposals that are functionally sound, politically appropriate and financially viable. The bottom line for mediation researchers is that they are most likely to influence policy and practice if they meet the knowledge requirements of the intended recipients of their research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human sciences are maturing rapidly. Education policymaking must also mature. One method of ensuring rigor in policymaking is evaluating the return on investment (ROI). A major discovery in the human sciences is the importance of the first thousand days of life in shaping an individual's life. This period is neglected in educational policymaking and funding. This research aims to build an ROI model to support educational policy in the first thousand days. The research was done in two stages. Firstly, the literature on early childhood was reviewed and integrated to derive equations that describe the life-long impacts of early childhood. Secondly, a systems dynamic (modeling of complex systems) is constructed using Vensim® software. We propose a three-phase model: (1) rigorous adolescent teaching of emotional and social skills; (2) an "it takes a village to raise a child" strategy; and (3)a "parents as first teachers" strategy. We found that (1) Australian government agencies lack a coordinated strategy; (2) Education funding is primarily directed at supporting educational professionals and institutions rather than empowering and skilling families and communities. (3) More research on forgetting and loss of skill post-course completion is needed, and (4) Research into and awareness of complex systems can be fostered with easy-to-use systems dynamics software platforms. This research applies four powerful tactics for empowered educational research: (1) empowering individuals and communities; (2) education as operating in multidisciplinary complex systems; (3) championing recent transformational discoveries; and (4) exploring the ROI of policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Addressing nutrition disparities and preventing obesity require multi-level interventions, including policies that address the nutrition environment and other social determinants of health. The Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research Evaluation Network (NOPREN) was established in 2009 to conduct transdisciplinary research and accelerate the translation and implementation of science-based policy interventions. This study examined NOPREN’s collaborative practices and identified opportunities to improve network impact. Methods Using a mixed-methods approach, we combined quantitative survey data (n = 106) and in-depth, qualitative interviews (n = 18) to evaluate the experiences of NOPREN members and understand the extent to which NOPREN was achieving its goals. Results Using the Consolidated Framework for Collaborative Research (CFCR), quantitative and qualitative results were organized into 11 themes. We find that NOPREN’s structure and standardized processes facilitate connections to individuals and resources, foster relationships, and support effective cross-sector collaborations. Areas of improvement include capacity building and a more intentional approach towards recruitment of a diverse membership. Conclusion A collaborative research network can build synergy across sectors and accelerate knowledge transfer. These findings will be used to inform the network’s strategic priorities to maximize impact. Findings may also inform similar collaborative efforts for addressing complex public health problems.

Plain English summary The Policy Research Unit in Behavioural Science (PRU-BS) was formed in early 2019, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The aim of the unit is to advise the government on the use of behavioural science (the study of human behaviour) to inform health and social care policy. From the outset the aim was to embed PPI in all aspects of the unit’s work from the governance and direction of the unit to the individual research projects it conducts. As behavioural science cuts across all aspects of health, recruiting members of the public to work within the PRU-BS required careful thought. In this paper we describe the processes of recruiting to our PPI Strategy Group, the induction and training, and the ways in which we worked to develop the group and become embedded within the unit. Lastly, we present several recommendations based on our experiences of forming the PPI Strategy Group. Although this is aimed primarily at those contemplating setting up a group whose remit extends beyond a single research project, we hope this will be a useful resource for the public, researchers and others working in PPI.

Background: A potential remedy for issues with patient outcomes, healthcare delivery, and access is telemedicine. Nonetheless, there is ongoing discussion and research regarding the effects of different telemedicine policies on these factors. The objective of this systematic review is to examine the body of literature in order to comprehend how various telemedicine policies affect patient outcomes, healthcare access, and care quality. Method: Relatively relevant papers published between 2015 and 2024 were found and evaluated by an extensive search of electronic resources. Research that evaluated how telemedicine regulations affected patient outcomes, access to care, and quality of care were included in the analysis. To find recurring themes and patterns in the chosen research, data extraction and synthesis were carried out. Result: The findings showed that various telemedicine policies, such as regulatory frameworks, licensure criteria, and reimbursement policies, were put into place in various healthcare systems and geographical areas. It was discovered that the impact of these policies on the availability of healthcare varied; while some helped to expand access to care, especially in underprivileged areas, others created obstacles to adoption and use. In addition, the review found correlations between telemedicine policy and measures of the quality of treatment, including clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and best practice adherence. Conclusion: It has been discovered that policy elements including provider education, reimbursement rates, and technological infrastructure have an impact on how well telemedicine services are delivered. The review also looked at how telemedicine policies affected patient outcomes, such as health outcomes, adherence to treatment, and use of healthcare services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China’s agricultural and rural greenhouse gas emissions account for about 15% of its total emissions. Studying how to reduce China’s agricultural carbon emissions (ACEs) is of great strategic significance. Based on the panel data of 31 provinces (cities) in China from 2007 to 2020, this paper empirically tests the impact of fiscal environmental protection expenditure (FEPE) on ACEs. The results reveal that: FEPE has significant negative impacts on ACEs; FEPE has a heterogeneous impact on ACEs in different regions, which shows that it has a significant impact on the eastern and central regions and provinces with relatively “high” carbon emissions, while it has no significant impact on the western regions and provinces with relatively “low” carbon emissions; Further the results of mechanism analysis show that the impact of FEPE on ACEs is mainly manifested in its inhibiting effect on agricultural diesel, fertilizer and film use of carbon emissions. In light of these findings, it is imperative for the government to ensure steady and substantial investments in environmental protection. Moreover, implementing region-specific measures is essential to effectively curbing ACEs. The findings of this study offer invaluable insights that can guide the formulation of policies aimed at effectively reducing ACEs.

The mixed treatment of municipal sludge and food waste can generate renewable energy, solve the environmental and economic challenges caused by this waste, and has attracted significant research attention. Using environmentally friendly anaerobic co-digestion of municipal sludge and food waste can improve the effects of anaerobic mono-digestion and produce more biogas. However, as the municipal sludge and food waste managers are different, balancing the interests of both managers is needed to encourage anaerobic co-digestion development. By fully considering the interests of the local authority, the waste water treatment plants, and the food waste anaerobic digestion treatment plants, this paper developed a bi-level optimization approach based on Stackelberg equilibrium theory to resolve the conflicts between the different stakeholders, in which uncertain parameters were used to describe the uncertainties. The proposed model was then applied to a real case in Chongqing, China, to test its practicality, and scenario analyses under different policy parameter values were conducted to provide guidance for local authorities, waste water treatment plants, and food waste treatment plants. The proposed approach was found to provide balanced strategies for all three stakeholders, increase the renewable energy output of municipal sludge and food waste treatment 14.2 times, and reduce carbon emissions by 50%, thereby protecting the environment and achieving a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers a critical assessment of the challenges for policy- and practice-oriented social research of 'diffractive methodology' (DM): a post-representational approach to data analysis gaining interest among social researchers. Diffractive analyses read data from empirical research alongside other materials – including researchers' perspectives, memories, experiences, and emotions – to provide novel insights on events. While this analytical approach acknowledges the situatedness of all research data, it raises issues concerning the applicability of findings for policy or practice. In addition, it does not elucidate in what ways and to what extent the diffractions employed during analysis have influenced the findings. To explore these questions, we diffract DM itself, by reading it alongside a DeleuzoGuattarian analysis of research-as-assemblage. This supplies a richer understanding of the entanglements between research and its subject-matter, and suggests how diffractive analysis may be used in conjunction with other methods in practice- and policy-oriented research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Addressing nutrition disparities and preventing obesity require multi-level interventions, including policies that address the nutrition environment and other social determinants of health. The Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research Evaluation Network (NOPREN) was established in 2009 to conduct transdisciplinary research and accelerate the translation and implementation of science-based policy interventions. This study examined NOPREN's collaborative practices and identified opportunities to improve network impact. Methods: Using a mixed-methods approach, we combined quantitative survey data (n = 106) and in-depth, qualitative interviews (n = 18) to evaluate the experiences of NOPREN members and understand the extent to which NOPREN was achieving its goals. Results: Using the Consolidated Framework for Collaborative Research (CFCR), quantitative and qualitative results were organized into 11 themes. We find that NOPREN's structure and standardized processes facilitate connections to individuals and resources, foster relationships, and support effective cross-sector collaborations. Areas of improvement include capacity building and a more intentional approach towards recruitment of a diverse membership. Conclusion: A collaborative research network can build synergy across sectors and accelerate knowledge transfer. These findings will be used to inform the network's strategic priorities to maximize impact. Findings may also inform similar collaborative efforts for addressing complex public health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in Behavioural Science (PRU-BS) was funded to inform government on the application of behavioural science in health and social care policy. What makes this unit different to other topic specific ones, was the wide range of its brief. Because of this, the PPI group would need to include a wide range of experience and expertise and be prepared to learn. We were a different type of public group for a different type of task. This paper deals with how we approached this. In this paper we outline how the PPI plan in the funding proposal for the PRU-BS was adapted to real world challenges. We describe the stages in the formation of the PPI Strategy Group and how a virtual platform was created to ensure good communication. We discuss our pragmatic approach of developing Terms of Reference and a PPI strategy document. Given the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic we explain how we tackled PPI SG member induction sessions, meetings and training sessions. To illustrate how the group operates we provide an example of our involvement in a PRU-BS project. Central to our paper is the lessons we learned. We hope the challenges we met in forming the unique PPI SG, how these were overcome, and our recommendations will help others faced with a similar task. Plain English summary: The Policy Research Unit in Behavioural Science (PRU-BS) was formed in early 2019, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The aim of the unit is to advise the government on the use of behavioural science (the study of human behaviour) to inform health and social care policy. From the outset the aim was to embed PPI in all aspects of the unit's work from the governance and direction of the unit to the individual research projects it conducts. As behavioural science cuts across all aspects of health, recruiting members of the public to work within the PRU-BS required careful thought. In this paper we describe the processes of recruiting to our PPI Strategy Group, the induction and training, and the ways in which we worked to develop the group and become embedded within the unit. Lastly, we present several recommendations based on our experiences of forming the PPI Strategy Group. Although this is aimed primarily at those contemplating setting up a group whose remit extends beyond a single research project, we hope this will be a useful resource for the public, researchers and others working in PPI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This descriptive study reports the early career outcomes of postdoctoral fellows who completed a novel embedded fellowship training program, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Health System Impact (HSI) Fellowship. The program was designed to support impact-oriented career paths of doctoral graduates, build research capacity within health system organizations (HSOs), and help to advance learning health systems (LHSs) in Canada. Methods: Employment of fellowship alumni upon completion of the program was tracked using internet searches of publicly accessible online sources and complemented with program survey data. Results: Descriptive analyses show that all 87 eligible alumni included in the study are currently employed (100% of 87), with 92% employed in Canada. Their employment spans several sectors, including in academic (37%), public (29%), healthcare delivery (17%), and private (14%) sectors. Altogether, 32% of alumni hold hybrid roles with an affiliation in academia and another sector. The most common position types are senior scientist (42%), professorships (18%), and director, manager or administrator roles (12%). Program reporting data indicate that these employment outcomes are generally consistent with the group's career aspirations reported at the start of the fellowship program, and that the program receives high ratings from fellows in the extent it is believed to support their career preparedness and readiness (4.49 out of 5). Conclusion: This study finds that HSI Fellow alumni are employed mostly in research-related roles in a range of sectors including, but not limited to, academia, and that they positively perceive the program's success in elevating their career readiness and potential to make an impact - suggesting that the program may help equip fellows with the skills, readiness and networks for contribution in a broad array of employment sectors and roles. The findings are a promising signal of the demand for research talent and the growing capacity for LHSs in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before problems can be solved, they must be defined. In global public policy, problems are defined in large part by institutions like the World Bank, whose research shapes our collective understanding of social and economic issues. This article examines how research is produced at the World Bank and deemed to be worthwhile and legitimate. Creating and capturing research on global policy problems requires organizational configurations that operate at the intersection of multiple fields. Drawing on an in-depth study of the World Bank research department, this article outlines the structures and technologies of evaluation (i.e., the measurements and procedures used in performance reviews and promotions) and the social and cultural processes (i.e., the spoken and unspoken things that matter) in producing valuable policy research. It develops a theoretically informed account of how the conditions of measurement and evaluation shape the production of knowledge at a dominant multilateral agency. In turn, it unpacks how the internal workings of organizations can shape broader epistemic infrastructures around global policy problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is an ongoing scheme administered through the Australian Government providing eligible children funding for clinical dental treatment. This study aimed to investigate the access of dental services across children's early childhood and examine whether the CDBS has improved access to dental care. The longitudinal study of Australian children is an ongoing cross‐sequential cohort study with a representative sample of Australian children recruited in 2004. Birth (0–1 year) and kindergarten (4–5 years) cohorts were recruited through Medicare enrolment information at baseline and were representative of the Australian child population. Population‐weighted longitudinal mixed effects Poisson models with individual identifiers as a random effect were used to assess the effect of Medicare dental schedules on reported dental attendance. Prior to the implementation of the CDBS for both cohorts, the birth cohort reported the lowest attendance rate at age 4–5. The introduction of the CDBS increased the rate of dental attendance for the low household income group by 8% (95% CI: 1%, 15%) after adjusting for confounders. The model provides evidence that dental attendance increased with age and the Indigenous population have 31% (95% CI: 4%, 55%) lower attendance rate after adjustment. The increase in reported access to dental services and favourable visiting patterns in low‐income households during the operation of the CDBS provides some evidence that the schedule's primary aims to improve access to care in the child population are being met. Access to healthcare is multifaceted and the underutilisation of the schedule in the population warrants review of the schedule performance using other patient‐centred indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education has often been seen as an essential catalyst for overall development. The human capital theory is based on this idea and has been criticized by many studies over the past half-century. The root of the quality of educational management lies in what happens in the classroom. However, the current situation in Thai society There are other issues involved and factors affecting the quality of education, such as the issue of inequality in education. Therefore, in the development of educational management, quality should seek the correct solution. It has been carefully studied from a variety of perspectives. Moreover, study lessons from countries with similar contexts; for example, Vietnam and Indonesia have similar contexts to Thailand. Nevertheless, there are clear trends in the development of educational management on many issues. New Zealand is regarded as a good practice in raising the quality of education that should be analyzed. Identify the critical factors of success, especially regarding reducing inequality in education. That is why the researcher is interested in a comparative study. The education management model in small schools reduces educational disparities in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and New Zealand. As a policy suggestion for Thailand to improve the quality of education management and meet the needs of Education 4.0 This research will highlight issues and guidelines for the development of education management to reduce inequality in Thailand and recommendations on the role of relevant agencies in promoting the development of education management to minimize inequality and develop the strength of education reform in Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Product acquisition policies define legal markets. Policy evaluations require data but prevalence data are not always available. We introduce Legal Firearm Prevalence (LFP), a direct behavioral measure based on the population of firearm licensees in Massachusetts, and argue that it can help evaluate firearm sales and usage restrictions. LFP is not directly measurable in most firearm markets, so we test candidate proxies for LFP in several common research designs, finding that firearm acquisitions are the best proxy in every research design tested. We update the classic study of guns and crime by Cook and Ludwig (2006), finding that choosing an invalid proxy can lead to false research conclusions. We recommend systematic collection and reporting of firearm acquisition data to improve firearm research and inform firearm policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this provocation, we discuss the potential for health/medical geography to contribute to a policy-relevant geographical research agenda that remains attentive to social theory debates. We illustrate the importance of time as a social determinant of health, through the case study of racial/ethnic inequities in spatial access to acute hospitals in the U.S. South region amid rural hospital closures, conversions, and mergers, which have decreased the supply of hospitals since 1990. In sum, racial disparities in spatial access were most pronounced for travel distances/times to the nearest alternative hospital, underscoring the importance of both temporal and spatial equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]