Proceedings of the Homicide Research Working Group Meetings, 1997 and 1998. Research Forum

摘要

The keynote address generated a great deal of discussion from the audience. Participants noted that social policy involves ethical decisions and that policy analysis is an art form, which ideally involves a collaborative effort from the number crunchers to the people in the trenches. The challenge for researchers today is how to present practitioners and policymakers with useful information. It can be difficult to generate sound policy recommendations from research. However, sometimes researchers set their sights too high. Basic knowledge and recommendations that may seem simple and obvious may be helpful to practitioners and policymakers. In fact, sometimes a non-answer, that is, clarifying what does not work, may be invaluable to practitioners and policymakers because it leads them in more productive directions. Social scientists possess extensive knowledge which can be helpful if they can package in a way that others can hear it. Information and contact is necessary.