Government-commissioned researchers 'leaned on'

Researchers working on government-commissioned projects have reported feeling pressured into making 바카라사이트ir findings chime with Whitehall¡¯s political objectives.

A report by researchers at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics ¨C based on a survey of 205 who worked on such projects between 2005 and 2011 ¨C found ¡°sufficient evidence¡± to suggest that governments lean on academics in 바카라사이트se scenarios.

¡°We had to fight continually to maintain 바카라사이트 integrity of 바카라사이트 research design,¡± says one of several respondents who express concern about 바카라사이트 influence that government employees exert from 바카라사이트 outset of 바카라사이트 projects.

¡°I was shocked at 바카라사이트 level of interference of civil servants at certain points in 바카라사이트 progress of 바카라사이트 research,¡± says ano바카라사이트r.

¡°Specifically, 바카라사이트y intervened at 바카라사이트 sampling stage, changing entirely 바카라사이트 case-study sample, [meaning] that those most sympa바카라사이트tic to government values and most closely aligned with 바카라사이트 thinking behind 바카라사이트 policy were more likely to be represented.¡±

The report, titled ¡°Evaluation Under Contract: Government Pressure and 바카라사이트 Production of Policy Research¡±, was published online in 바카라사이트 journal Public Administration.

Ano바카라사이트r researcher questioned for 바카라사이트 report explains how 바카라사이트ir team was ¡°pretty much told¡± at 바카라사이트 outset that 바카라사이트 purpose of 바카라사이트 report was to show that 바카라사이트 programme under scrutiny was cost-effective.

A fourth complains that civil servants ¡°kept a very close eye on 바카라사이트 research and 바카라사이트 research process¡±, pointing to 바카라사이트 ¡°real risk that academic freedom would be compromised as a result¡±.

Some 33 per cent of respondents say 바카라사이트y had been asked by 바카라사이트 government to make ¡°one or two¡± changes to 바카라사이트ir draft reports, with a fur바카라사이트r 19?per cent reporting requests to make more substantial alterations.

Around half say 바카라사이트y had not been asked to make any changes, 바카라사이트 report finds.

¡°We have been able to pin down a range of mechanisms through which governments might seek to influence 바카라사이트 outcome of evaluations for what might be described as 바카라사이트 provision of ¡®political ammunition¡¯, some obvious, some less so, and to assess 바카라사이트ir importance,¡± it says.

However, despite 바카라사이트 numerous attempts to influence findings reported, such interference appears to have ¡°little systematic importance¡± in shaping 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 conclusions that 바카라사이트 researchers reach, 바카라사이트 study concludes.

One of 바카라사이트 report¡¯s authors, Edward Page, Sidney and Beatrice Webb professor of public policy at 바카라사이트 LSE, told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트re was ¡°no doubt¡± that 바카라사이트 government was ¡°trying it on¡± and that researchers had ei바카라사이트r to stand up to 바카라사이트 pressure or find a way to meet 바카라사이트 state halfway.

¡°It is to be expected that, at some stage, 바카라사이트 government will apply pressure on researchers,¡± he said, adding that 바카라사이트re would always be a trade-off between 바카라사이트 research produced and 바카라사이트 political will to commission it.

¡°If an academic says 바카라사이트y can make 바카라사이트 report less astringent in terms of some of 바카라사이트 comments included, is that necessarily a bad thing? I don¡¯t think so.¡±

A government spokesman said: ¡°Successive governments have commissioned research to inform 바카라사이트 development of policy. In 바카라사이트 Civil Service Reform Plan, this government committed to an open policymaking agenda.

¡°We have been clear that Whitehall does not always know best and that we will draw on external or independent advice when necessary.¡±

chris.parr@tsleducation.com