Final Exam ReviewProfessionals Role and the Use of Research - What roles can we have?o Professionals can have roles where they are being both directly and indirectly connected with policy makers. o Professionals can: Create research and ideas to influence policies Handing out the information Increase citizen participation in process Educate- Theoretical Frameworko To have a model to construct roles that professionals could have in building family policyo 9 Roles identified with case studies following- 1. Research For Family Policy Formulationo Conduct studies to help decide if any social action is needed.  Acting as identifiers of any problems or as warning signs for potential breakdowns. o Examining the functions of family (creation, economic support, childrearing, & caregiving) Looks at causal mechanisms of breakdownso “What gets measured, gets done” Shows that only issues that have research by professionals are actually able to measured and quantified are said to get passed or even reevaluated and put into effect. This means that this role of being a researcher is critical in the formation of policies,policies will not get created if they have not been measured. - 2. Family Policy Implementationo Implementation: the task of transforming policy goals into programs, operating procedures and regulations.  Professionals can highlight lessons learned from past efforts of implementationo What could improve process? Educating administrators and staff Better data sets to test effectiveness and efficiency, to learn from the past. Better research, better data sets, implementation.  Ongoing monitoring of implementation- 3. Family Policy Evaluationo Policy evaluation = Program Evaluation Difference is what you’re evaluating, a program or specific policyo Family Evaluation Research: Does program/policy meet stated outcome for families Unit of analysis could be parents, siblings, family memberso Exploring outcomes as well as: Which families are reached Under what conditions Why and how program is effectiveo If there is a good evaluation then you can determine if effectiveness of policy/program is: Because of the design Implementation Extent of family involvement  Combination of all 3o Must have agreement on criteria and accepted ways of measuring, if there is no agreement is could be bias. - 4. Family Research Integrationo Research Integration: providing concise comprehensive review that stress the most important findings and states any relevant implications for policymakers. New insights.o Breakdown in integration because policymakers lack the time Inability to know what are good/bad studieso If those areas are improves upon, professionals can bring concise, comprehensive reviews to policymakers. - 5. Family Research Disseminationo Research Dissemination: making research known broadly with intent of seeing it used in policy and public areas. o Needed to be specifically tailored for policymakers Debate centered on the importance in value of research and its impact on policyo Role of media in dissemination has been another source of debate, especially concerning its roles in releasing information. Is it a proper way to release this information? Media has been viewed positively because it allows a huge amount of people to be reached, however they may be bias. - 6. Family Impact Analysiso Goes beyond evaluation research to identify if goals could be counter productive Wanting to see the unintended consequenceso Checklist Conducted by professional or those trained in the process- 7. Teaching Family Policyo NCFR pushed to have this be a part of background for those working in the arena of families and policy. o Several challenges posed to teachers in this area: Policies continue to change Where should the attention fall, on what issues What stance should teachers takeo Barrows stresses importance of remaining neutral, can achieve this byhaving connections with people on both sides of the issue. Need to reduce bias. - 8. Citizen Engagement in Family Policymakingo Reinvent idea of citizenship, where people take a more active role Traditionally: advocacy has centered on moving resources from high to low resource groupo Public Problem Solving, opens new roles for professional Direct work with policymakers for citizens Helping citizens understand process Teaching others problem solving skills- 9. University Involvement in Family Policy Scholarshipo University Huge source of research No political ties or motivationso Call for Universities to do more in terms of family policy & to have students do more as they exit the university Elevate outreach (Grant writing assistance, financial backing) Reinforcement for faculty to be engaged in outreach within the policy world and educating the public- Advocacy vs. Educationo Family Policy Advocacy Fight for an underrepresented group/particular policy alternative Guidelines:- Ideas & assumptions about role of values in political process- Understanding the democratic process- The power of engaging in on time citizen action Potential Consequences- Not a good fit with scientific methodo Question of objectivityo May hurt credibility with others, because you only see one side of an issueo Family Policy Alternatives Education Informs policy discourse by clarifying potential consequences of policy alternatives  Criticisms:- Can you achieve objectivity?- Political Neutrality, not achievable Potential Consequences- Fresh perspective, creates an environment for cohesiveness- Challenge in evaluating success of these efforts & engaging and providing education to all is difficulto How to make the distinction? There is some overlap between these two areas as both use research for their purposes.  Family Impact Seminar combines both, gives education but sides with families- Role of Researcho Barrows highlights that policymaking involves a process where research can be continually inserted Policymaking is a circular process not linear.  Enlightenment function vs. process decision makingRoles and Professionals- Family Impact Seminarso Wisconsin: High participant enthusiasm regarding seminars Gain of greater knowledge regarding families More useful dissemination of information Use with further work in policymaking Change in attitudes regarding research and families- 10 Lessons to Connecto Varied delivery geared toward