What is a Fact Sheet?
The Research-to-Policy Collaboration facilitates the creation of fact sheets in response to policymaker interest on a specific issue or topic. Fact sheets are succinct, 1-2 pages’ documents that synthesize targeted, timely, and relevant research and contain actionable recommendations geared towards policymakers. Legislative audiences have limited time to read through empirical articles and reports; fact sheets can help introduce them to the issue/topic at hand and start a conversation about it.
Fact sheet authors should focus on the parts of the document that make it skimmable. This includes:
Title – which determines if someone will look at the document any further
• Recommendations – which determines if someone thinks the fact sheet is politically biased or feasible
• Section Headers – which clearly lay out supporting arguments that support your recommendations
Imagine your 1 pager is read for 30 seconds. Those are the things they will read and nothing else matters. They will read it more closely if they think it sounds relevant and compelling to their own policy goals.
Components of a fact sheet include: (1) targeted audience, (2) your main point, (3) supporting arguments, and (4) actionable policy options.
1. Targeted Audience
The same information can be constructed differently, depending on your audience. Consider the following question: Who are you trying to reach? Be specific about your audience – the more specific your audience, the more targeted information you can provide in your fact sheet. To write an effective fact sheet, you need to know who your audience is, what their values are, and how you can relate to them. The audience does not change what the evidence about an issue is, but it can inform how the information is framed.
2. The Main Point of the Fact Sheet
What is the one thing you want to tell your audience? Nonscientific communities lead with the main point because that’s what people want to know. This should be apparent in your title as well as opening statement. Present your conclusion first, help your audience to see why the findings are relevant to them, and then provide more background information. Policymakers might be interested in different facets of your work, and you want your message to resonate with their interests and accommodate their needs. Thus, clearly communicating the “so what” of your main point is important.
3. Supporting Arguments
Subsection headers should convey the logic behind your main point, which makes the document very skimmable. Use simple language when providing scientific evidence. This boosts your impact because it shows that you know your audience, which builds trust and better ensures readers will be able to understand the information you provide. When writing your supporting arguments, consider the following tips:
• Break content down into bullet points and highlight key text
• Include charts or graphs illustrating key points (if possible)
• Avoid using scientific jargon
• Use fewer words and try to maintain a middle school reading level
• Use neutral, non-partisan language
• Consider incorporating narratives supported by other types of evidence
4. Actionable Policy Options
Policymakers appreciate explicit connections to how information could be applied to their work. Fact sheets should be solution driven. Don’t merely state the problem. Rather, provide a range of policy options and list pros and cons of each option. Policy options should be clearly connected to the fact sheet’s main point and supporting arguments – based on the summarized evidence, what are possible actions to take? A breakout text box can draw attention to these, further improving the skimmability of your document.
When presenting options:
• Have a neutral tone and do not appear to favor one option over the others.
• Discuss opportunities to take specific action to address the problem.
• Focus on the results of taking the action. Be specific here, if an action is taken, who is likely to benefit, where, and when?
• Do not make recommendations about specific legislation or federal programs (which are established through statute). Specific legislative recommendations are consistent with lobbying. You may describe the legislative content, and how that aligns or contrasts with research evidence, rather than taking a stance on a specific bill or legislative action.
Creating a Fact Sheet
A well-crafted fact sheet is one powerful tool for sharing research and can open doors to building relationships with policymakers. In this video, we walk through how to summarize your work in a concise, compelling, and accessible format that meets the needs of decision-makers. From identifying key messages to choosing visuals and honing language, this training will guide you in developing fact sheets that are clear and credible.
Key Tips
Effective fact sheets that align with RPC’s goals should:
- Focus on policy implications. Policymakers appreciate explicit connections to how information could be applied to their work.
- Provide context and research evidence. Research is more than just data or statistics – it also includes causes, consequences, and best practices.
- Be non-partisan. Fact sheets help disseminate research evidence to policymakers, the importance and usefulness of which transcends political parties and ideologies.
- Avoid lobbying. The RPC does not lobby, which means we do not endorse specific bills or specific legislation changes. To avoid lobbying, fact sheets should present a menu of varying policy solutions and not endorse specific legislative action or programs.
- Contain clear language. Policymakers and researchers often use different ‘languages’ to communicate. Avoid using jargon and overly complex explanations/descriptions.
How Trestle Link Can Support You
- The TrestleLink team provides editorial support including guidance on framing, organization of content, clarity, conciseness, and avoiding partisan language. Editorial support may occur at any point during the drafting process, from idea conception to finalizing the document.
- Authors address feedback and send back a revised draft for a second round of reviews. TrestleLink finalizes the fact sheet and formats according to an agreed upon template.
- The fact sheet is published online in both full form and as a downloadable PDF. This is best practice for electronic dissemination. TrestleLink may also support an electronic dissemination or a SCOPE trial.
FAQ’s
I’m not sure whether my fact sheet includes lobbying – what do I do?
No worries – TrestleLink is here to help! Read the considerations below and, if assistance would still be helpful, email the TrestleLink associate(s) you are in contact with about the fact sheet.
Things to consider:
- Did you only mention one policy solution to the issue you wrote about? Consider adding more directions policymakers could take to address the issue. Consider politically diverse policy directions.
- Is specific legislative action endorsed or opposed? You may describe the legislative content, and how that aligns or contrasts with research evidence, rather than taking a stance on the bill or legislative action.
- Ask for help! Our skilled policy associates are able to provide guidance.
My fact sheet is longer than 2 pages but everything seems important and I can’t cut it down.
- Staffers have limited time to read through long documents. Consider the purpose of the fact sheet – it is not to summarize decades of research on an issue, but rather to provide key points that 1) explain the policy solutions you discuss and 2) relate to a policymaker’s interest in the topic.
- View fact sheets as conversation starters rather than documents that must contain everything. Identify the main points you think are most important and must be made, then align the rest of the content around those points.