Policy Research

In general, policy research involves developing, implementing, and evaluating the legislative and allied instruments that, at a minimum, set conditions in key areas such as funding, regulation, and quality assurance. Although policy plays out in diverse venues, this entry focuses on approaches related to education systems and institutions. Such policy involves the public, political advisers, consultants, leaders, academics, unions, and interest/lobby groups, among others. International agencies such as the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization play a prominent role in education policy. Specialists may be called on to examine particular problems; although as sectoral and jurisdictional boundaries are blurred by general sociopolitical changes, there is increasing emergence of generalist ...