“Hearing from All Sides” How Legislative Testimony Influences State Level Policy-Makers in the United States
Background This paper investigates whether state legislators find testimony influential, to what extent testimony influences policy-makers’ decisions, and defines the features of testimony important in affecting policy-makers’ decisions. Methods We used a mixed method approach to analyze r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Kerman University of Medical Sciences
2015-02-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Health Policy and Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijhpm.com/pdf_2941_5c372898132edf73c4f2d46ca265ba16.html |
| _version_ | 1819298714019168256 |
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| author | Sarah Moreland-Russell Colleen Barbero Stephanie Andersen Nora Geary Elizabeth A. Dodson Ross C. Brownson |
| author_facet | Sarah Moreland-Russell Colleen Barbero Stephanie Andersen Nora Geary Elizabeth A. Dodson Ross C. Brownson |
| author_sort | Sarah Moreland-Russell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background
This paper investigates whether state legislators find testimony influential, to what extent testimony influences policy-makers’ decisions, and defines the features of testimony important in affecting policy-makers’ decisions.
Methods
We used a mixed method approach to analyze responses from 862 state-level legislators in the United States (U.S.). Data were collected via a phone survey from January-October, 2012. Qualitative data were analyzed using a general inductive approach and codes were designed to capture the most prevalent themes. Descriptive statistics and cross tabulations were also completed on thematic and demographic data to identify additional themes.
Results: Most legislators, regardless of political party and other common demographics, find testimony influential, albeit with various definitions of influence. While legislators reported that testimony influenced their awareness or encouraged them to take action like conducting additional research, only 6% reported that testimony changes their vote. Among those legislators who found testimony influential, characteristics of the presenter (e.g., credibility, knowledge of the subject) were the most important aspects of testimony. Legislators also noted several characteristics of testimony content as important, including use of credible, unbiased information and data.
Conclusion
Findings from this study can be used by health advocates, researchers, and individuals to fine tune the delivery of materials and messages to influence policy-makers during legislative testimony. Increasing the likelihood that information from scholars will be used by policy-makers may lead to the adoption of more health policies that are informed by scientific and practice-based evidence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T05:34:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9239144336534bfd9b079c4449877b22 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2322-5939 2322-5939 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T05:34:17Z |
| publishDate | 2015-02-01 |
| publisher | Kerman University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Health Policy and Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-9239144336534bfd9b079c4449877b222022-12-21T17:13:04ZengKerman University of Medical SciencesInternational Journal of Health Policy and Management2322-59392322-59392015-02-0142919810.15171/ijhpm.2015.13“Hearing from All Sides” How Legislative Testimony Influences State Level Policy-Makers in the United StatesSarah Moreland-Russell0Colleen Barbero1Stephanie Andersen2Nora Geary3Elizabeth A. Dodson4Ross C. Brownson5Center for Public Health Systems Science, Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USACenter for Public Health Systems Science, Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USACenter for Public Health Systems Science, Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USAPrevention Research Center, Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USAPrevention Research Center, Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USAPrevention Research Center, Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA; Division of Public Health Sciences and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USABackground This paper investigates whether state legislators find testimony influential, to what extent testimony influences policy-makers’ decisions, and defines the features of testimony important in affecting policy-makers’ decisions. Methods We used a mixed method approach to analyze responses from 862 state-level legislators in the United States (U.S.). Data were collected via a phone survey from January-October, 2012. Qualitative data were analyzed using a general inductive approach and codes were designed to capture the most prevalent themes. Descriptive statistics and cross tabulations were also completed on thematic and demographic data to identify additional themes. Results: Most legislators, regardless of political party and other common demographics, find testimony influential, albeit with various definitions of influence. While legislators reported that testimony influenced their awareness or encouraged them to take action like conducting additional research, only 6% reported that testimony changes their vote. Among those legislators who found testimony influential, characteristics of the presenter (e.g., credibility, knowledge of the subject) were the most important aspects of testimony. Legislators also noted several characteristics of testimony content as important, including use of credible, unbiased information and data. Conclusion Findings from this study can be used by health advocates, researchers, and individuals to fine tune the delivery of materials and messages to influence policy-makers during legislative testimony. Increasing the likelihood that information from scholars will be used by policy-makers may lead to the adoption of more health policies that are informed by scientific and practice-based evidence.http://www.ijhpm.com/pdf_2941_5c372898132edf73c4f2d46ca265ba16.htmlTestimonyPolicy-makingLegislators |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Moreland-Russell Colleen Barbero Stephanie Andersen Nora Geary Elizabeth A. Dodson Ross C. Brownson “Hearing from All Sides” How Legislative Testimony Influences State Level Policy-Makers in the United States International Journal of Health Policy and Management Testimony Policy-making Legislators |
| title | “Hearing from All Sides” How Legislative Testimony Influences State Level Policy-Makers in the United States |
| title_full | “Hearing from All Sides” How Legislative Testimony Influences State Level Policy-Makers in the United States |
| title_fullStr | “Hearing from All Sides” How Legislative Testimony Influences State Level Policy-Makers in the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Hearing from All Sides” How Legislative Testimony Influences State Level Policy-Makers in the United States |
| title_short | “Hearing from All Sides” How Legislative Testimony Influences State Level Policy-Makers in the United States |
| title_sort | hearing from all sides how legislative testimony influences state level policy makers in the united states |
| topic | Testimony Policy-making Legislators |
| url | http://www.ijhpm.com/pdf_2941_5c372898132edf73c4f2d46ca265ba16.html |
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