Table 2 Examples of policy/practice focussed reasons for conducting/investing in research

Descriptive research

Commissioned surveys/analysis of existing data sets

• Raise awareness of a problem/get issue on policy agenda e.g. association between soft drink consumption and obesity amongst NSW school children

• Emphasize importance/priority of a problem to policy makers e.g. consequences of obesity; metabolic markers in obese teens

• Counteract the influence of industry stakeholders on a policy process e.g. food industry; prevalence of junk food advertising during children’s viewing times

• Build a case/advocate for specific a policy solution e.g. tougher advertising restrictions; greater emphasis on fundamental movement skills programmes

• Identify and address gaps in understanding/knowledge that may aid in policy decision making e.g. stakeholder perceptions about obesity

• Define the problem in NSW; contribute to rationale for policy intervention e.g. local prevalence data

• Convince stakeholders that there is a need for policy action; internal (within government) and external advocacy e.g. school-based data; active transport data

• Monitor progress and reach of a strategy/programme

• Highlight achievements; justify/seek ongoing investment

• Plan policy initiatives and predict outcomes e.g. model intervention/ policy outcomes

• Understand key settings and feasibility/acceptability of potential policy actions

Intervention research

Commissioned research/ programme evaluations

• Develop tools for practice e.g. programme materials

• Develop a solution for known policy priority areas/settings e.g. childcare interventions

• Design an intervention to fit with existing services with a view to wider scale-up e.g. obesity prevention intervention within home visiting services

• Address a perceived gap in service delivery with a view to influence policy activity/inactivity in this area e.g. interventions for adolescents in schools

• Build on from previous research to improve its relevance, fit, and sustainability for wider implementation at scale e.g. different iterations of the same intervention in schools

• Provide policy relevant information in relation to an intervention e.g. economic analysis as part of a broader programme of research

• Improve local services e.g. school canteen interventions within local health districts

• Generate evidence where no/limited evidence exists; trial new interventions in high priority policy areas e.g. childcare interventions

• Address gaps in existing research knowledge; real world effectiveness, cost, feasibility/acceptability in relation to specific interventions

• Improve the efficiency/quality of existing services e.g. test less resource intensive modes of service delivery; electronic reminders/incentives

• Test interventions that have been trialled in other settings or locations to determine suitability/effectiveness within the local context e.g. group-based obesity treatment programmes

• Determine the outcomes of existing programmes/services; inform future programme delivery e.g. childcare interventions

• Test specific approaches/ideas e.g. population wide approaches

Research syntheses

Commissioned literature reviews

• Provide advice for practitioners; best practice approaches

• Understand an issue before engaging with policy makers e.g. links between soft drinks, weight status and health

• Highlight gaps in government policy response; advocate for further/alternate/new strategies

• Advocate for further research in an area; influence research funding strategies e.g. demonstrate a gap in knowledge exists

• Provide rationale for policy action and policy choices; for use as an internal and external advocacy tool; to support specific policy processes (action plan development, consultation process); to feed into decisions about continued investment/changes

• Guide/inform practice e.g. development of practice-based guidelines

• Understand new areas for potential policy intervention e.g. technology-based interventions

• Determine ‘best buys’, most promising areas for intervention; understand strength of evidence in relation to different options

• Inform programme/service development; what to do and how to do it in relation to a specific intervention

• Identify areas requiring further research in relation to policy information gaps