The policy implications of social experimentation: A conceptual framework for knowledge utilization

With massive efforts at social experimentation, beginning with the income maintenance experiments and continuing through the RAND health insurance experiment to the work-welfare experiments, much money and time has been spent in this method of information gathering. This dissertation is part of a larger study to determine if and how the results of such experiments are related to public policy making. It details the UI Bonus experiments and the nursing home incentive experiment, two case studies in this series of experiments examined for their role in subsequent public policy deliberations. These case studies are based on document reviews, surveys of those working in the health care and unemployment fields in each state, and interviews with those involved in the experiments.;The ensuing discussion of results also looks at factors which influence utilization (credibility, timeliness, communication and visibility, generalizability, and relevance). Building on Weiss, the case studies examine the hypothesis that compatibility of experimental results and a policy maker's ideology, interest, and existing information base influence the manner and extent to which experimental findings are used.;After discussing the origins of the experiments, the paper presents a three-dimensional typology of research utilization using these two case studies. The first dimension dichotomizes specificity of utilization between concrete utilization, which involves findings directly influencing specific policy actions, and conceptual utilization involving findings influencing the opinions and views of policy makers. The second dimension describes the range of utilization from substantive use to elaborative use. Finally, the third dimension is timing of utilization, pre or post decision.