A policy brief presents a concise summary of information that can help readers understand, and likely make decisions about, government policies. Policy briefs may give objective summaries of relevant research, suggest possible policy options, or go even further and argue for particular courses of action.
Methods
A short policy brief might summarize the findings of a single research paper. Such reports can be useful short assignments for early in the semester. Longer policy briefs present findings from a broad swath of scholarly research, and may include figures, economic analyses, more extensive background, etc.
Eoin Young and Lisa Quinn at the International Center for Policy Advocacy provide a handout, “The Policy Brief,” summarizing effective brief style. It includes a section titled “Common Structural Elements of a Policy Brief” that is especially helpful.
The Women’s and Children’s Health Policy Center provides a video lecture on the policy brief, examples, and example assignments in “Writing Policy Briefs: A Guide to Translating Science and Engaging Stakeholders.”
Examples
James Lowenthal’s class AST 220: Astronomy and Public Policy performs the following project:
You are a staff member of a US senator on the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Choose an actual senator on the committee in 2017. Research and write a policy briefing to the senator. The general subject should be one of the three main topics of this class that will NOT be the subject of your final presentation. The specific topic of your briefing can be large – e.g. “Controlling light pollution” – or narrow – e.g. “Development of Mauna Kea, HI”.
Learning Goals
- Assess the relationship between research and real-world needs.
- Move from research to recommendations.
- Concision and clarity of expression for a general audience.
- Consider audience, particularly the needs of government officials or legislators.
