Looking both ways: a review of methods for assessing research impacts on policy and the policy utilisation of research

Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of included studies (n = 144)

	Research impact assessments (n = 68)	Intersecting studies	Research use assessments (n = 67)
	Research impact assessments (n = 68)	(n = 9)	Research use assessments (n = 67)
Direction of assessment
Forward tracing assessments	61		4
Backward tracing assessments	7		63
Elements of both		9
Unit of analysis^a
Research project	48		4
Research programme	4		–
Research centre	3		–
Research portfolio	4		–
Policy document	6		10
Policy committee	–		4
Policy process	–		49
More than one unit of analysis	3	9
Methods of assessment
Framework used to structure assessment
Yes	46	7	23
No	22	2	44
Data sources
Multiple data sources	48		46
Interviews only	1		5
Survey only	13		3
Desk analysis only	6		13
Utilised case studies	42	8	53
Single case study	8	4	32
Multiple cases studies	34	4	21
Respondents^b
Researchers only	26	1	1
Decision-makers only	5		17
Researchers and decision-makers	27	5	8
Broad range of policy actors	–	3	28

^aPrimary unit of analysis (i.e. findings reported in relation to this unit of analysis)
^bNot all studies have respondents (e.g. desk-based analyses)

ISSN: 1478-4505