Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made.                                              ~Otto von Bismarck

Memo to students or those interested in a career in family policy; if you can only afford one book, I'll save you some time; Evidence-based Policymaking by Karen Bogenschneider and Tom Corbett is the one to get.

This book is a superb resource for both legislators and policy analysts. These two expert authors have seen the policymaking process up close and provide the reader with their combined decades of experience.  Portions of the book are the memoir and precious insights from two people who have successfully crossed the bridge from academia to government many times. It fits a niche I haven't seen much of before-it covers what really happens in policy arenas. The policymaking process can be unpleasant-hence the oft repeated "sausage" quote.  But seeing new legislation move forward that promotes family well-being is a beautiful thing and cause for real celebration in our field.  Families' lives have been changed-the book offers many examples.

In explaining just how helpful this book is, I hardly know where to begin.  This book describes the knowledge producers and the knowledge users, how each of them thinks, where the "disconnects" are and how communication can be enhanced.

Since I work in the family research field, I am mostly interested in what policymakers need from scholars. Scientists should know that policymakers are rarely going to see an academic journal.  They prefer that information be presented in groups/seminars or understandable briefs. They want to interact with the experts. They want a few anecdotes or real life examples to illustrate the concepts.  They want research findings summarized in lay terms-no jargon.  And they need information in a timely fashion when a decision is to be made. 

My favorite illustration in the book is a table called Differences in the Information Needs, Work Culture, and Writing Preferences among the Three Communities of Researchers, Policymakers, and Policy Administrators (Page 113). This table clearly explains how scholars, legislators and administrators have different preferences for doing their work and, at times, these are at cross-purposes with each other's.  Examples-researchers enjoy questions-policymakers want answers-administrators want implementation and operational guidance.  The authors know how to speak all these languages.  This is the best book on translational research that I've ever seen.

Are you a scholar who wants to have an impact on families?  Read this book. It's a recipe for success.