JustResearch Edition no. 11

3. Issue 11 Theme: Research and Policy: Bridging the Gap

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We invite your comments and suggestions for future issues of JustResearch. We welcome your ideas for articles, themes, topics or issues to examine from the literature and are happy to include information on any relevant and interesting research work undertaken in other departments. We may be contacted at: rsd-drs@justice.gc.ca

CONTRIBUTORS

In the fall of 2003, the Research and Statistics Division celebrated its work through Research Week. The theme was "Research in Justice: Developing Options, Answering Questions, Monitoring Changes." In this issue of JustResearch, we are pleased to continue the exploration of the different ways in which social science research supports the legislative and policy-making process.

Research plays an integral part in the various responsibilities of the department's role as Attorney General and that of Minister of Justice, although ultimately it may only be one of many competing factors that support decision-making. Research informs and bridges the gap between the questions and issues faced by the department, the decision-making process, the current and future needs of the Government of Canada and the responsibilities to the Canadian public. Research also responds to the demands for evidence-based decision-making, value for public expenditure, and performance measures.

As social science researchers working within the Department of Justice, we are in many cases well positioned to provide research support to our policy partners. When ideas or concepts emanate from the academe, the transfer from research to policy becomes more complicated and potentially less timely.

Nathalie Des Rosiers, President of the Law Commission of Canada, addressed the recipients of the 2002 Canadian Policy Research Rewards on this very theme. She noted that the journey from research to policy is similar to translating for different audiences. We involve translation for our official languages every day. Legalese often requires translation for a non-legally trained audience. For research to be able to play a productive role, it also must undergo some translation.

Indeed, there are many challenges inherent in ensuring that research is recognized in the legislative and policy-making process. The translation from the world of research to that of policy requires skills and talents from all parties, but it is incumbent upon the researchers to understand both languages. Researchers must be able to convey the ideas, the findings, the numbers, and achieve a resonance with their policy colleagues. Strong working relationships, excellent communication skills, and these translation skills become truly essential. It is often through narrative, or story telling, that the ideas take shape and achieve that resonance. A number, or statistic, on its own has never influenced policy without the story behind it.

In the Research and Statistics Division, there are many opportunities to work closely with Justice colleagues, to provide research that supports and informs the legislative and policy making process, and to communicate ideas, findings and numbers. Many of us become storytellers as we translate our research into usable information for our colleagues. In this Issue of JustResearch, we have included a few examples of such research.