Working with Policy Makers

This guide has been developed with the NIHR Policy Research Unit (PRU) in Behavioural and Social Sciences to support researchers to write effective policy briefs to inform the development or implementation of policy. Whilst the guide has been written primarily for a UK audience, it is hoped that it will be useful to researchers in other countries.

 Written in consultation with policy experts and advisors, including the UCL Centre for Policy Impact, the guide takes researchers through a step-by-step process to conceptualising, writing, disseminating and evaluating the impact of research briefs for policy makers.

Achieving Behaviour Change (ABC) Guides

These guides provide a framework for understanding behaviour in its context and developing interventions and policies to change behaviour. The guides were commissioned by Public Health England’s Behavioural Insights team.

A webinar was held when the guides were launched:

Improving health and wellbeing: A guide to using behavioural science in policy and practice  

The guide focuses on behaviours in a range of policy areas, that directly or indirectly influence human health and wellbeing, such as substance use, diet, physical exercise and injury prevention, behaviours that affect environmental sustainability, antisocial behaviours and pro-social behaviours. It offers an introduction to behavioural science and a step-by-step process for developing/optimising interventions (policy, service or communications) designed to start, stop, continue or changing behaviours.

Other resources

We are proud to be part of the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Behavioural and Social Sciences, which uses evidence, theory and methods from behavioural and social sciences to inform government policy on health, preventing ill-health and health systems. Visit the unit’s website for more information and resources.

Spotlight on: Katherine Saunders, Senior Policy Fellow

Our Senior Policy Fellow Kitty Saunders, who works on Behavioural Research UK, spends half of her time seconded to the Government Office for Science. The aim of her role is to bridge the gap between behavioural research and policy makers in all four nations across UK government. Read more about Kitty’s role and career on the BR-UK website.