Social Science and Public Policy: The Role of Research and Think Tanks

Transcription

1 1 Social Science and Public Policy: The Role of Research and Think Tanks American Association for the Advancement of Science AAAS Fellow Orientation Ron Haskins The Brookings Institution September 12, 2012

2 2 Model of Factors that Influence the Legislative Process The Public Congressional Agencies Lobbying Groups Budget Political Parties The President Committees Committee Chairmen Policy Continents Media Committee Staff Research Members' Staff

3 3 Congressional Legislative Process House Bill Introduction Committee Action: 1. Hearings 2. Markup Rules Committee Floor House- Senate Conference Floor Enrollment Presidential Action Senate Bill Introduction Committee Action: 1. Hearings 2. Markup Floor Floor

4 4 How Social Scientists Can Influence Policy Research Research Reviews Testimony Op-eds Media Campaigns Lobbying

5 5 Examples of Effective Research Mary Jo Bane & David Ellwood, Slipping into and out of Poverty: The Dynamics of Spells, 1986 Craig Ramey and Frances Campbell, Effects of Early Intervention on Intellectual and Academic Achievement, 1994 Jim Riccio & Others, GAIN: Benefits, Costs, and Three-Year Impacts of a Welfare-to-Work Program, 1994 David Olds, Effect of Prenatal and Home Visitations by Nurses, 1997 John and Loretta Jemmott & Geoffrey Fong, Efficacy of a Theory-Based Abstinence-Only Intervention, 2010

6 6 Characteristics of Effective Research Important Topic for Public Policy Experimental Design Replication Broad Agreement in Field

7 7 Examples of Effective Research Reviews Charles Murray, Losing Ground, 1984 Judy Gueron & Edward Pauly, From Welfare to Work, 1991 Sara McLanahan & Gary Sandefur, Growing Up with a Single Parent, 1995 Lynn Karoly, Investing in our Children, 1998 Douglas Kirby, Emerging Answers: 2007, 2007

8 8 Guidelines for Presenting Effective Testimony 5 minutes Talk with committee staff; what would help the most? One or two major points One chart or table (very simple; PowerPoint) Oral testimony delivered in informal style Use of humor Elaborate written testimony is OK (with charts and tables) Convert testimony to op-ed if possible

9 9 The Perfect Op-Ed Short and sweet (750 words) No social science terms; no big words One major point Progression of arguments against Progression of arguments for Data good but light Begin and end with zippiness

10 10 Influencing the Media Press releases Press conferences Media seminars Maintaining relations with the media Social media

11 11 Lobbying Congress Personal relationships with staff and members Testimony Congressional briefings Stakeholder seminars Press events

12 12 Brookings Role in Bringing Evidence to Bear on Policy Decisions Knowledge Generation Direct Consultation with Policymakers and Staff Testimony Written Policy Briefs Policy Briefings Public Events Stakeholder Seminars Quality, Independence, Impact

13 13 Three Examples of Research s Impact on Policy 21st Century Community Learning Centers Welfare Reform Home Visiting

14 Score or Percentage 14 Impacts of 21 st Century Learning Centers on Academic Outcomes Treatment Group Control Group Math Grade Reading Test Score Often Complete Homework Student Above Average or Very High Student Prepared and Ready to Learn Source: Student Survey, School Records, Teacher Survey data published in Susanne James-Burdumy, Mark Dynarski and John Deke, When Elementary Schools Stay Open Late: Results from the National Evaluation of the 21 st Century Community Learning Centers Program, Education Evaluation and Policy Analysis 29, no. 4 (2007): , Table 4.

15 Percentage Ever Employed During Year 15 Impact of Riverside GAIN Program on Employment Rates Over Three Years Series 1 Series Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Source: p. 27

16 Average Welfare Payment 16 Impact of Riverside GAIN Program on Welfare Payments Over Three Years Experimental Group Control Group Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Source: p. 33

17 17 The Adventures of the Olds Home-Visiting Program Bush support for Home Visiting Obama recommends $8 billion for Olds-type programs in 2010 budget (released 02/09) Child lobby presses Congress to include more programs Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy issues support letter for Administration Daro/Dodge/Weiss/Zigler letter sides with advocates Administration and Congress respond to advocates; reach compromise Two or three tiers of funding

18 18 Obama/Orszag Model for Applying Evidence to Policy Choice 1. Highest funding priority to programs that have strong evidence (random-assignment) 2. Less but some priority to promising programs 3. Money in all program legislation for highquality evaluations 4. Examples: Preventing teen pregnancy programs Infant home-visiting programs

19 19 Right-of-Center, Left-of-Center, and State Government Groups that Influence Federal Social Policy Right: Heritage Focus on the Family Free Congress Foundation CATO Chamber of Commerce National Federation of Independent Business American Enterprise Institute Left: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Center on Law and Social Policy National Women s Law Center Center for Community Change Children s Defense Fund Catholic Charities and Catholic Bishops Brookings Government: National Governors Association American Public Human Services Association National Conference of State Legislatures