Understanding UK policymakers’ evidence needs through policy questions

The present mixed methods study used UK policymakers to answer the following: 1) are there common topics for which evidence is requested over time (2019 to 2023) that cut across government department or agency, and 2) is there a preferred style of request for evidence? Three separate datasets of policy questions (n = 3260) posed by UK policy makers to academics were coded by a combination of humans and an algorithm and then analysed. First, of the 7 recurring topics identified (Climate and Environment, Defence and Security, Economy, Health, Information Technology, Social Welfare, Technology), Economy (27%) was the most featured across all policy makers across all 5 years. Climate and Environment showed the sharpest rise over time (16% to 38%). Second, of 7 styles of questions, procedural (33%) was the most common, which means addressing “how to” (e.g. measure, intervene, prevent) questions. In the qualitative interviews policymakers reported gaining the most from an exploratory approach during one-to-one interactions with academics, and have their assumptions challenged as well as expand the way policy issues could be addressed. This UK test case shows the value of focused iterative policy-academic exchanges and could be a way to enhance evidence-based policy-making initiatives.