The chapter analyses the fundamentals of policy-relevant research and the specific role it plays in enhancing research practice-based research and research-based decision-making processes. According to the study, policies affect and influence nearly every aspect of human life, beginning with the legal age for drinking, marrying, the people we can marry, and the speed limit allowed for people to drive. Therefore, understanding the rubric, as well as the fundamentals of policy-relevant research, is an essential component that cannot be overlooked. Policy relevant research primarily refers to the aspect of the effectiveness of policies in informing decisions made by policymakers and how these ultimately affect daily living. Therefore this means authentic, original, and quality research findings that can be applied to decision making in the process of policy formation. For instance, while the crime was hitting an all-time high in the 1960s, the Federal government formed the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, which was charged with the duty of conducting research aimed at creating policies that shape security and law enforcement. The process of making policy entails the actions undertaken by the government to solve difficulties and improve the worth of living for the people. The process takes the form of outline structure, construction, and implementation, application and assessment, and conclusion. Before the preparation of the program, there must be a problem or a challenge that merits the creation of a solution aimed at mitigating the issue. Therefore, policies are primarily created as ways and means via which to solve problems and create a solution for the community. Policy formulation refers to the process of forming a solution aimed at solving the problem in society. Congress is primarily involved in listening to different proposals that shape the course of policy formation. The process of implementation and adoption typically entails authorities other than those that proposed the policy For instance, whereas Congress may adopt policies that deal with the aspect of improved water quality standards, the Environmental Protection Agency may be charged with the direct duty of implementing such a policy and hence may have the comprehensive details of what it encompasses. Decisions arrived at in the Supreme Court are delegated to other branches of government for enforcement and practicality. The final stage of policy formation is the evaluation and termination. This entails multiple agencies and parties or people both in and out of government. This is a crucial step because it allows the legislators to determine whether or not policies formed are effective, null, and void. Researchers can influence policymakers in various stages of the policy development stage. For instance, the work of a researcher may be the beginning of the consideration for policy formation. The research could contain results or findings that warrant the formation of policies. An examination of the conclusions of the second stage of research development may further influence the course of research development. Moreover, the policy formed can be abandoned during the evaluation and termination process. Therefore, the quality of the research findings can cause the primary basis for policy change and the formation, and it can also influence its other stages of development, namely policy formation, adoption, evaluation, and termination. The primary architects of policies and laws in a country are the legislators or the elected officials. The debate on laws in parliament and take note of emerging trends to better strategies to live up to and address the needs of the country. Other essential personnel who take part in the process of policy formation include ordinary civilians, friendly personnel in the society, medical practitioners, professionals, health care facilities, community schools and colleges, businessmen and women, and non-governmental organizations. The law provides for any individual to process a motion that influences policy change and pass it through Congress. According to the study, policy-relevant research is essential because the quality and the effectiveness of resultant policies depend on the quality of the research findings that accrue from the research. Some attempts to change policy fail due to technicalities of the law or disconnection between policy formed and practice. Whereas all research finding s may seem appealing on paper, some of them may not be applicable in real life and hence cannot be adopted. Policy briefs comprise essential elements that include the Title of the policy brief detailing the name of the policy brief and a summary of what it will entail. The Executive summary or key message outlines the most fundamental elements of the policy brief that aims to convince the reader about the significance of the policy. The introduction section convinces the reader of the existing problem and the need to eradicate the problem. Policy briefs contain sections that critique the policy options and convince the reader that the chosen policy change is the best among all the other options. The recommendations sections propose up to 5 feasible options for the policymakers. A reference list is included at the end of the brief to offer authenticity and illustrate objective research. Overall, both journal articles and policy briefs contain certain fundamental elements, for instance, the introduction, the main body, references, and the conclusion. However, unlike journal articles, policy briefs are not peer-reviewed. Therefore, researchers need to understand the fundamentals of policy formation to create authentic, effective, and efficient policy briefs that apply to and that address the needs of the community. The quality of policies depends on the quality of research.
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