UNC Charlotte Violence Prevention Center Training Series
Dissemination Methods That Work: Supporting Policymakers’ Value and Use of Research
Understanding How Researchers Bridge Evidence and Policy
How do researchers and institutions ensure that scientific evidence informs real-world decisions?
This session, led by Dr. Taylor Scott of Penn State University and President of TrestleLink, explored what happens when universities, research centers, and practitioners attempt to integrate research into policy action. Drawing on experimental studies and field-tested engagement models, the discussion examined the systems, relationships, and timing that make dissemination effective.
What You’ll Learn
- The Structural Perspective
Research translation often fails not because communication is weak but because institutions lack the infrastructure, roles, and sustained capacity needed to make engagement with policymakers strategic and repeatable. - The Human Dynamics of Research Use
Relationships, trust, and responsiveness are essential to the effective use of evidence. Policymakers rely on people, not just publications, to interpret and apply research insights. - Communication in Policy Contexts
Participants learned how to operate as nonpartisan “honest brokers,” offering education rather than advocacy, and crafting concise, timely messages that align with active policy opportunities. - Tested Dissemination Models
The session highlighted field-tested models that demonstrate what works, including:
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- Research-to-Policy Collaboration (RPC): A rapid-response partnership model that connects researchers and policymakers in real time.
- Family Impact Seminars (FIS): Bipartisan briefings that build credibility and shared understanding.
- Ambassador and SCOPE Models: Scalable outreach methods that use targeted communication and data-informed refinement to increase engagement.
- Measuring Policy Impact
Attendees explored how to measure outcomes, including the inclusion of research language in bills, the frequency of meetings with policymakers, and the long-term effects of educational partnerships.
Why It Matters
Effective dissemination is not about producing more information. It depends on designing systems that facilitate timely, credible, and sustainable research engagement.
This session equipped participants to evaluate their current approaches, strengthen institutional capacity, and translate evidence into meaningful and lasting policy impact.