Why Should Health Researchers Use Policy Theories?; Comment on “Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses?”
Powell and Mannion suggest that ‘health policy process’ research should draw more lessons from ‘the wider policy process literature.’ While health research could continue with sector specific models, the wider literature is ‘conceptually stronger.’ In that context, I clarify how and why health resea...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Kerman University of Medical Sciences
2023-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Health Policy and Management |
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| Online Access: | https://www.ijhpm.com/article_4474_d9ea95ba70ce77d4b8216071642ecdf8.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797206227698057216 |
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| author | Paul Cairney |
| author_facet | Paul Cairney |
| author_sort | Paul Cairney |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Powell and Mannion suggest that ‘health policy process’ research should draw more lessons from ‘the wider policy process literature.’ While health research could continue with sector specific models, the wider literature is ‘conceptually stronger.’ In that context, I clarify how and why health researchers should use policy theories. I describe a review of the use of policy theories in public health research to show that many researchers use them to not only understand policy-making but also influence policy and policy-making. Most policy theories are not designed for that purpose, but it is still possible to produce practical lessons. I outline the issues that arise when repurposing theory-informed insights, such as that policy change takes a long time, and the scale of policy-making is potentially overwhelming. I then highlight the valuable role of theories in raising dilemmas in relation to modes of governance and evidence production. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:03:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-25fb490fc76c4a69bae4ec9a07748ac5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2322-5939 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:03:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Kerman University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Health Policy and Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-25fb490fc76c4a69bae4ec9a07748ac52024-04-15T19:04:26ZengKerman University of Medical SciencesInternational Journal of Health Policy and Management2322-59392023-12-0112Issue 11310.34172/ijhpm.2023.79774474Why Should Health Researchers Use Policy Theories?; Comment on “Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses?”Paul Cairney0Division of History, Heritage, and Politics, University of Stirling, Stirling, UKPowell and Mannion suggest that ‘health policy process’ research should draw more lessons from ‘the wider policy process literature.’ While health research could continue with sector specific models, the wider literature is ‘conceptually stronger.’ In that context, I clarify how and why health researchers should use policy theories. I describe a review of the use of policy theories in public health research to show that many researchers use them to not only understand policy-making but also influence policy and policy-making. Most policy theories are not designed for that purpose, but it is still possible to produce practical lessons. I outline the issues that arise when repurposing theory-informed insights, such as that policy change takes a long time, and the scale of policy-making is potentially overwhelming. I then highlight the valuable role of theories in raising dilemmas in relation to modes of governance and evidence production.https://www.ijhpm.com/article_4474_d9ea95ba70ce77d4b8216071642ecdf8.pdfhealth policypublic policypolicy-makingpolicy theories |
| spellingShingle | Paul Cairney Why Should Health Researchers Use Policy Theories?; Comment on “Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses?” International Journal of Health Policy and Management health policy public policy policy-making policy theories |
| title | Why Should Health Researchers Use Policy Theories?; Comment on “Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses?” |
| title_full | Why Should Health Researchers Use Policy Theories?; Comment on “Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses?” |
| title_fullStr | Why Should Health Researchers Use Policy Theories?; Comment on “Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses?” |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why Should Health Researchers Use Policy Theories?; Comment on “Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses?” |
| title_short | Why Should Health Researchers Use Policy Theories?; Comment on “Modelling the Health Policy Process: One Size Fits All or Horses for Courses?” |
| title_sort | why should health researchers use policy theories comment on modelling the health policy process one size fits all or horses for courses |
| topic | health policy public policy policy-making policy theories |
| url | https://www.ijhpm.com/article_4474_d9ea95ba70ce77d4b8216071642ecdf8.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT paulcairney whyshouldhealthresearchersusepolicytheoriescommentonmodellingthehealthpolicyprocessonesizefitsallorhorsesforcourses |