What determines public affairs researchers’ motivations for policy impact? Results from an exploratory study

Abstract

Although public policy and public administration are intuitively practical fields of scholarship, much public affairs research never affects practice. Previous studies have shown that one major predictor of whether a given research study or researcher achieves impact is the researcher's motivation to do so. Using data from a survey of 409 authors of articles in major public affairs journals, we present and test models of the determinants of researchers’ use motivations with regard to specific research studies and over the course of their careers. Results indicate that previous experience as a practitioner is positively associated with perceived career-long use motivation and rewards for use associated with tenure and promotion, although not with annual evaluations. In addition, project-specific use motivation is positively associated with perceived career-long use motivation, academic age, a study suggestion made by a practitioner, and methodological contribution. Motivations based on a desire to appear productive or on suggestions from researcher colleagues are negatively associated with study-specific use.

Points for practitioners

Academic motivation to affect policymaking is positively associated with rewards associated with tenure and promotion, although not with year-end evaluations.

Longer-serving researchers, and those with practitioner experience, report greater motivation to affect practice through their research.