Institutional Filters: The Translation and Re-circulation of Ideas about Health Inequalities Within Policy

Katherine Smith

doi:10.1332/030557312X655413

Institutional Filters: The Translation and Re-circulation of Ideas about Health Inequalities Within Policy

Katherine Smith

School of Social and Political Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Taking health inequalities in the UK as a case study, the paper draws on historical institutionalism and ideational theories to explore how the organisation of policymaking bodies shapes the relationship between research and policy. It demonstrates that policy ‘silos’ and hierarchies operate as filters to research-based ideas, encouraging ideas which support existing policy paradigms and perceived political preferences, whilst blocking or significantly transforming more challenging ideas. This limits the extent to which research can inform policy. Yet, a lack of institutional memory within policymaking enables re-cycled ideas to appear innovative, creating an impression of continual dialogue between research and policy.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	81-100
Number of pages	20
Journal	Policy and Politics
Volume	41
Issue number	1
Early online date	23 Aug 2012
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1332/030557312X655413
Publication status	Published - Jan 2013

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

discursive Institutionalism
ideas
health inequalities
evidence-based policy

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10.1332/030557312X655413

Institutional Filters - The Translation and Re-Circulation of Ideas about Health Inequalities within Policy
This is a post-peer-review, pre-copy edited version of an article published in Policy & Politics. The definitive publisher-authenticated version of © Smith, K. (2013). Institutional Filters: The Translation and Re-circulation of Ideas about Health Inequalities Within Policy. Policy and Politics, 41(1), 81-100 is available online at: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/tpp/pap/2013/00000041/00000001/art00005?token=004b15d26881467232d45232b5f24383853577479737d703568293c6c567e504f58762f4601 - See more at: http://www.policypress.co.uk/info_archiving.asp?#sthash.lUI6prWW.dpuf
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http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/tpp/pap/2013/00000041/00000001/art00005?token=004b15d26881467232d45232b5f24383853577479737d703568293c6c567e504f58762f4601

Cite this

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Institutional Filters: The Translation and Re-circulation of Ideas about Health Inequalities Within Policy

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How public health research translates into policy and practice

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Institutional Filters: The Translation and Re-circulation of Ideas about Health Inequalities Within Policy

Abstract

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

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How public health research translates into policy and practice

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