Guide for producing Institute for Policy Research (IPR) Policy Briefs
1. Why are we producing IPR Policy Briefs?
The aim of the IPR Policy Briefs is to showcase the research of our academics, raise the profile of policy relevant research done at the University of Bath, and provide an effective vehicle for research impact.
The IPR produces Policy Briefs to communicate the findings and policy implications (in some cases specific recommendations) of research to policy-interested audiences, such as: local, national and international policy-makers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), charities, interest and advocacy groups, other research organisations, funders, businesses and members of the public.
Policy Briefs are structured and written in a way that communicates these messages clearly and concisely; assuming our readership has no background knowledge of academic debates and terms, and limited time to assess the significance of research.
2. Process for producing IPR Policy Briefs
A first draft of your IPR Policy Brief should be produced by you (the academic or team who conducted the research), and should be structured and written in accordance with the guidance given below. However, if it is useful, an initial planning meeting with Hannah Durrant (Institute for Policy Research Coordinator) can be arranged, at which an outline will be discussed, agreed and sent to you.
The first draft should be sent to Hannah Durrant by an agreed date for editing. You should be aware that the editing phase may involve a number of iterations to produce the final draft.
Your Policy Brief will be produced as a webpage on the IPR website; displayed along with links to additional and relevant information.
It will also be sent to Imaging and Design to be produced as an IPR Policy Brief PDF. (You may be asked for input into images selected to accompany your Policy Brief – see section 4.2 below.) Please note IPR Policy Brief PDFs are not normally suitable for hard copy production.
3. How to structure and write an IPR Policy Brief
Several IPR Policy Briefs have already been produced, and are available on the IPR website. They provide examples of how IPR Policy Briefs are structured and written, and how the finished product will look.
3.1 How to structure an IPR Policy Brief
IPR Policy Briefs should be 800-1500 words long and contain the following headings and sections:
a) About this research
- an opening statement which places the research in a wider context; provides a clear and concise rationale for the research (why the research has been done); and establishes its relevance for policy and/or policy debate
- who did the research and when (in some cases it might be necessary to include a sentence on how the research was done)
- the key finding of the research and the key implication/recommendation for policy
In total this section should comprise no more than 4-6 short sentences.
b) Key findings
4-6 bullet points of key findings (specifically, the key findings that policy-interested audiences should be made aware of if they have only 2 minutes to scan this Policy Brief)
You should keep the bullet points succinct. You will have an opportunity to elaborate on the findings in the next section (Research findings in context).
c) Research findings in context
This section is designed to complement the 4-6 bullet points of key findings.
Firstly, it should describe, in a little more detail, the context in which this research sits; why you have done the research and why it is relevant to policy/policy debate.
Secondly, it should elaborate on the key findings, and explain why policy-interested audiences should be aware of them.
This section should be no longer than 500 words.
d) Policy implications
This section should provide the policy implications of the findings.
Policy implications can be presented as key messages for policy-interested audiences and/or as specific policy recommendations for particular policy-makers, organisations, groups, etc.
You should be clear and concise, and where possible, make good use of bullet points.
This section should be no longer than 400 words.
e) Brief methodology
This section provides a brief but important outline of how the research was done, and when (include dates).
In total this section should comprise no more than 3-4 short sentences
f) Contact the researchers
Please provide the following details for yourself and any co-authors involved in this research:
- name
- department
- institution
- e-mail address
- link to an on-line staff profile (or IPR experts page)
g) More on this research
Please provide full references for any published articles, reports, working papers, etc. on this research.
N.B. If you would like to include and make reference to any clear and accessible tables, charts or diagrams please send high quality versions of these to Hannah Durrant with the first draft of your Policy Brief.
3.2 How to write an IPR Policy Brief
IPR Policy Briefs should be written in plain English for an educated, non-academic audience (clear and accessible, but not dumbed-down). You should avoid jargon and explain any key terms.
The written style should be guided by the ‘Plain English for Researchers’ document and the editorial style guides set out by both Marketing and Communications and The Economist.
4. Additional information to support your IPR Policy Brief
4.1 Useful links to sources of additional and relevant information
Your Policy Brief will be produced as a webpage. In addition to the text that you provide, the webpage will display (in a right-hand column) links for the reader to sources of additional and relevant information related to your Policy Brief. For example, links to:
- More information on the research (research summaries, project webpages, project blogs)
- Published papers (journal articles, research reports, working papers)
- The Principal Investigator(s) and other members of the research team (staff or IPR expert profiles)
- Relevant IPR Policy Theme(s)
- Relevant University of Bath Research Centres or Research Groups
- Funders’ websites
- Partners’ websites
- Related research
- External websites of interest
Please can you help us identify these links by filling in the form to collect IPR Policy Brief right-hand column information and returning it to Hannah Durrant.
4.2 Images to support IPR Policy Briefs
Your Policy Brief will be produced as a PDF. The PDF design involves a main cover image, and 1-2 additional images (including any high-quality clear and accessible tables, charts or diagrams that have been agreed and made reference to in the text).
If you have any suggestions of images that would best support your Policy Brief, please send these to Hannah Durrant.
You will be consulted on all images used.
Please note IPR Policy Brief PDFs are not normally suitable for hard copy production.
Checklist for IPR Policy Brief Authors:
- 1st Draft sent to Hannah Durrant (following guidance on how to structure and write IPR Policy Briefs)
- Completed form: IPR Policy Brief right-hand column information sent to Hannah Durrant
- Image suggestions sent to Hannah Durrant
- High-quality versions of Tables, Charts and Diagrams sent to Hannah Durrant
PDF of Guidelines for producing Institute for Policy Research (IPR) Policy Briefs
