Factors Influencing the Use of Health Evaluation Research in Congress

Abstract

This study explores relationships between the use of evaluation research in the legislative setting and a group of factors commonly cited in the literature as influences on use. The study focuses on the health policy area, and data were collected by telephone interviews with 100 congres sional staff members who deal with health policy issues. Although General Accounting Office (GAO) studies were identified more frequently, respondents did not indicate that they were used any more extensively than were other studies. Moreover, GAO studies were not perceived to be any more timely, methodologically credible, relevant, and so on than other studies. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the amount of policy conflict and the relevance of the report to Congress had no independent effect on reported use. The same analysis also indicated that proper timing of a report consistently had a significant effect on the amount of reported use. Clarity also influenced use by members of Congress but not use by staffers themselves. However, methodological credibility independently affected staff use but not use by the members.