Hello everyone
Welcome to week 6, when we are considering cultural dynamics in evidence-to-policy engagements. I have started uploading learning materials, all under the heading of CU6-SM1: Introduction to cultural dynamics in evidence-to-policy engagements.
I am introducing this discussion forum with the slightly different name of cultural dynamics and evidence for policy engagements. I chose evidence for policy rather than evidence to policy because culture affects the two-way flow of knowledge between evidence and policy: from policy teams to evidence teams as well as from evidence teams to policy teams.
Section 1 for this week, already uploaded, addresses the variation in cultures that need to be taken into account for successful policy implementation. These variations can be understood in terms of:
· material and social factors illustrated by socio-ecological models such as the rainbow of social determinants of health
· political, cultural and social factors illustrated by a more political lens such as Hall’s 3Is framework
· cultural dimensions that highlight the differences between nations
· social values that highlight how populations around the world have more commonalities than differences
This section ends with an approach for addressing these variations when synthesising research evidence or making use of the findings. This approach requires identifying who holds tacit knowledge about how things are experienced and how things are done in the public and private spheres, then engaging with some of those people to guide how research evidence is synthesised or how the implications from the findings of research conducted elsewhere are adapted for local contexts.
I suggest you spend most of your time for Section 1 on this last topic: Using evidence from elsewhere to inform decisions. I hope it might help us with the challenge that was raised last week about how to compile evidence about the economic burden of gender-based violence when local data is out of date. Please post suggestions in this discussion.
I would also like feedback from you about the learning materials. Have I got a helpful balance between text that introduces the key concepts and reading materials to delve into if you wish to understand issues in more depth? Is anything unclear or not given enough attention?
I shall be uploading more materials for this week in the next day or two and revising the most important ideas in the live session on Friday.
Best wishes, Sandy