Researchers as Knowledge Brokers: A Step toward ResearchInformed Policy? Lessons from the Israeli Case

Oct 15, 2026

In the 1970s, Israel established the “chief scientist” role within a knowledge mediation model to encourage research-informed policy and reduce gaps between academia, policy fields, and practice. The article analyzes how researchers who move into policy roles as knowledge brokers can increase research utilization and help translate research-based recommendations into action. Using qualitative methods, it draws on semi-structured interviews and newspaper analysis to identify conditions that maximize utilization and improve future policy construction beyond the Israeli case.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages25

Reading Time1 h 3 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Research use and the research–policy gap

Calls for research-informed educational policy and practice

education policy analysis archives A peer-reviewed, independent, open access, multilingual journal Arizona State University Volume 28 Number 133 September 7 , 2020 ISSN 1068-2341 Researchers as Knowledge Brokers: A Step toward ResearchInformed Policy? Lessons from the Israeli Case Rony Ramot & Gadi Bialik Tel Aviv University Israel Citation: Ramot, R., & Bialik, G. (2020) . Researchers as knowledge brokers: A step toward researchinformed policy? Lessons from the Israeli case. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 28 (133) . [https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.28.5115](https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.28.5115) Abstract: In the 1970s, the role of “chief scientist” was established in Israel as part of a knowledge mediation model aimed to promote research-informed policy and narrow the academia-field-policy gap. This paper examines how when researchers cross the boundary toward a policy role and serve as knowledge brokers, they may promote research utilization in policy. This sheds light on a key issue in the field of education research, specifically, what conditions or circumstances contribute to the maximization of research utilization and the implementation of research-based policy recommendations. Using qualitative methodology, we conducted semi-structured interviews with past chief scientists and analyzed newspaper articles to understand the complex nature of the role and to propose practical suggestions for improving its construction in future policy beyond the Israeli context. Despite the positive aura surrounding the common use of intermediaries, the issue of promoting such entities at the national educational level has not yet been realized in a coherent, stand-alone policy globally. Keywords: mediation; knowledge brokering; research use; field-policy-research gap Los investigadores como brokers del conocimiento: ¿Un paso hacia una políticabasada en la investigación? Lecciones de un caso en Israel Resumen: En la década de 1970, el rol de “científico jefe” se estableció en Israel como parte de un modelo de mediación del conocimiento destinado a promover políticas informadas por la investigación y reducir la brecha academia-campo-política. Este artículo examina cómo cuando los investigadores cruzan la frontera hacia un rol político y sirven como brokers del conocimiento, pueden promover la utilización de la investigación en las políticas. Esto arroja luz sobre qué condiciones o circunstancias contribuyen a maximizar lautilización de la investigación y la implementación de recomendaciones de políticas basadasen la investigación. Utilizando una metodología cualitativa, llevamos a cabo entrevistassemiestructuradas con antiguos científicos principales y analizamos artículos de periódicos para comprender la naturaleza compleja del papel y proponer sugerencias prácticas para mejorar su construcción en políticas futuras más allá del contexto israelí . A pesar del aura positiva que rodea al uso común de intermediarios, la cuestión de promover tales entidadesa nivel educativo nacional aún no se ha materializado en una política coherente e independiente a nivel mundial. Palabras-clave: mediación; brokering de conocimientos; uso de investigación; brecha de academia-campo-política Pesquisadores como brokers de conhecimento: um passo em direção a uma política baseada em pesquisas? Lições de um caso em Israel Resumo: Na década de 1970, o papel de “cientista-chefe” foi estabelecido em Israel como parte de um modelo de mediação de conhecimento com o objetivo de promover políticas informadas por pesquisa e estreitar a lacuna acadêmica-campo-política. Este artigo examina como, quando os pesquisadores cruzam a fronteira em direção a uma função política eatuam como brokers do conhecimento, eles podem promover a utilização da pesquisa nas políticas. Isso lança luz sobre quais condições ou circunstâncias contribuem para a maximização da utilização da pesquisa e a implementação de recomendações de políticas baseadas em p

FAQs

What problem does the paper address regarding education policy?

It focuses on how to narrow the gap between education research and policy/practice by understanding how research can be effectively utilized in policymaking.

How does the paper explain the role of researchers as knowledge brokers?

It argues that when researchers cross into a policy role and serve as knowledge brokers, they can promote research utilization in policy.

What methods were used in the study?

The study used qualitative methodology, including semi-structured interviews with past chief scientists and analysis of newspaper articles.

Oct 15, 2026

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