To what extent can the policy process be described as evidence-based, in your chosen policy area? In what circumstances has research been utilised by decision-makers, and why?

CASE STUDY

Joshua Newman(2017: 1108) observes that for many scholars of evidence-based policy, ‘Research evidence is just one influence on a complicated decision-making process, and not necessarily the most important one, either’.
Use one of the policy issues presented in weeks 8-10 (a. drug harm minimisation, b.gendered violence, or c. global health response to COVID) as the case study for your essay, and answer the following questions: To what extent can the policy process be described as evidence-based, in your chosen policy area? In what circumstances has research been utilised by decision-makers, and why?