67 - Communicating government impact with policymakers

Abstract Information: Storytelling is a useful tool, especially for government agencies responsible for communicating impact to policymakers. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed impact sheets as a new product to showcase success stories of occupational safety research and workers health. The impact sheets summarize the occupational safety or health problem and its relevance, major activities, resulting outputs or products, and the research impact that occurred. These one-page documents are written using plain, concise language during a collaborative process involving communication specialists, evaluators, and program researchers within the Institute. In reviewing this poster, participants will be able to: 1) describe the purpose of an impact sheet; 2) outline elements of an effective impact sheet; 3) understand challenges faced during the development of this communication tool.

Relevance Statement: Communicating information about research is a complex matter, especially to policymakers who have individual values, interests, and priorities (Smith et al., 2022). However, government research agencies need to demonstrate greater outcome-based accountability, showing the benefits from their spending (Greenhalgh et al., 2016). Smith (2022) and colleagues examined how 862 state legislators from across all 50 states and representing all political ideologies prioritized a provided list of characteristics of research. They found that over 50% of respondents prioritized research that was understandable, available at the time a decision was made, brief, and concise. In fact, Cairney and Oliver (2020) suggest that the solution to overcoming one of key barriers to communicating about research with policymakers is to “improve dissemination strategies to increase policymaker access to research: write more concise and less jargon-filled reports […]” (p. 231). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed impact sheets as a new product with these characteristics and more, in mind. They include the occupational safety or health problem and its relevance, major activities, resulting outputs or products, and the research impact that occurred. The impact sheets were user tested with policy analysts at CDC including policy liaisons that serve as a bridge between CDC programs and Congressional offices. Each NIOSH impact sheet is developed with a specific purpose in mind; to inform a member of Congress of an impact occurring in their respective district or state and the impact NIOSH is making in an area that is of high significance at the time, or to highlight the impact NIOSH is making in an emerging area. This means that while the format of the actual impact sheet remains the same, the information included can be tailored for the purpose and the impact being communicated. For example, the level of detail in an impact sheet designed for a Congressional representative whose district includes the workplace(s) where the impact occurred may look different from an impact sheet designed for members of Congress where the impact could be relevant and applicable at a state or industry-wide level. These documents can be shared proactively or as supplemental materials during Congressional visits or requests. This poster may be of interest to those attempting to tell their agency’s story of impact to policymakers at any level. Cairney, P. & Oliver, K. (2020). How should academics engage in policymaking to achieve impact? Political Studies Review, 18(2), 228-244. Greenhalgh, T., Raftery, J., Hanney, S., & Glover, M. (2016). Research impact: a narrative review. BMC medicine, 14(1), 78.