Receptivity and knowledge transfer in statistical governance issues - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Receptivity and knowledge transfer in statistical governance issues in international context: An early stage research idea

Marika Pohjola NTTS Conference (Brussels 10-12 March 2015) Session 14 A

The research issue

How is receptivity reflected in knowledge transfer processes in the EU / ESS - African Statistical Charter Signatory Country Co-operation as concerns monitoring and evaluation mechanisms of implementation of the UN Fundamental principles of

• fficial statistics ?

Starting points

• Sharing of experiences, lesson-drawing, and promotion of good practices

takes place in global statistics expert networks

• ”Soft “contents of transfer (norms and knowledge) vs. “hard” transfers

(policy tools and practices; standards and methodologies)

• “Statistical governance issues”: reference frameworks for monitoring and

evaluation

• In the ESS the process includes self-assessments, peer reviews and

improvement action plans

• <> the broader statistical governance framework which encompasses

i.a. relevant legislation

• Processes of knowledge transfer can be studied when concepts are

emerging and policies being formulated

Outlined analytical approach

• Focus of attention is on statistics expert network actors in the ESS – the

African Statistical Charter Signatory Country Co-operation, in project and programme level.

• Cognitions, motivations, and resources are defined as the actor core
• characteristics. These are influenced by the case-specific context, the

structural governance context and a less specified wider context (i.a culture, economic and technical developments, political system) (The Contextual Interaction Theory (CIT) by H. Bressers (2013))

• Perceptions, attitudes and agendas for change concerning instrument /

tool logic, mechanism & calibrations and integration of monitoring and evaluation reference frameworks into main stream policies are studied.

• Focusing on nature of processes rather than on ultimate results.

Receptivity

• “Receptivity” is suggested to be a key capability, and goes both ways
• Awareness (information search), assessment, acquisition and application
• Receptivity is dependent on the way new information can be associated and

exploited around existing knowledge, activities and objectives.

• New actors (“external change agents”) may introduce new problem

perceptions, propose new instruments and tools; new responsibilities to the existing context

• Creating synergy with existing elements and structures is generally aimed

at. (The Contextual Interaction Theory (CIT) by H. Bressers (2013))

Research strategy, methods, results

• A small-N case study approach
• Using mixed-methods approach, valuing both objective and subjective

knowledge, applying quantitative & qualitative research methods

• Case-selection, research design, data collection, analytical and

interpretative issues

• The analysis aims to describe collective experiences and various

differences

• Cognitive mapping contributes also towards greater conceptual clarity and

technical specificity in statistical governance issues in the efforts of ensuring the integrity of statistical systems.

Thank you

Marika Pohjola (marika.pohjola@stat.fi)

References

Bressers, Hans. In: Water Governance, Policy and Knowledge Transfer. International Studies

• n Contextual Water Management, Routledge, 2013.

Howlett, Michael and Cashore, Benjamin. The Dependent Variable Problem in the Study of Policy Change: Understanding Policy Change as a Methodological Problem. Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice 2009, Vol. 11, No 1. Jeffrey, P. and Seaton, R.A.F. A Conceptual Model of ‘Receptivity’ Applied to the Design and Deployment of Water Policy Mechanisms. Environmental Sciences 2004, Vol. 1, No. 3. Mossberger, Karin and Wolman, Harold. Policy transfer as a form of prospective policy evaluation: Challenges and recommendations. Public Administration Review 2003, Vol 63., No,. 4.