NGRF - UK National Guidance Research Forum

This is written from a research perspective on the Challenges for research into guidance to provide an evidence base to inform policy and practice

One important issue is whether the knowledge claims of research into guidance can be justified beyond the particular context in which the research occurs. This is a particular challenge where the research is complex, affected by many variables and in many cases is interventionist in that it is trying to improve practice. Additionally, many studies rely on narrative accounts to communicate and justify their findings. The narratives though are written from a particular perspective and may be open to very different interpretations.

One key question here is therefore what is our basis of understanding guidance encounters as outlined in research studies? How can we demonstrate a basis of our knowledge claims to others? Can we build evidence-based knowledge to help answer complex questions about the nature and outcomes of guidance, and is our idea of what constitutes an appropriate evidence base different from the conceptualisation of evidence-based practice of policy makers (and paymasters at the Treasury)?

We are not confident that we can fully answer such testing questions, but within this space for discussion of and reflection on research we believe that we can make a number of claims. We will seek to discuss (ideally theory-informed) research that focuses upon practice, work collegially with practitioners, policy-makers and researchers, in the co-construction of knowledge about guidance. We will acknowledge the range of issues facing practitioners and the variety of contexts within which guidance takes place and how guidance is adapted to these different contexts, in ways that recognise the limits of application of particular theories. However, by highlighting the specifics of practice it should be possible in an iterative fashion to adapt and sharpen theories and explanations of guidance in context.