SCIENCE BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS: how do individual and organizational analytical capabilities combine to use scientific evidence in public policies?

Abstract

Different governmental and non-governmental actors seek to mobilize scientific evidence to support work on public policies. In recent decades, studies have emphasized analytical capacities from the point of view of individuals – mainly public servants and government managers – or organizations – ministerial structures or independent agencies. This article innovates previous investigations in seeking to understand how individual and organizational dimensions interact to expand the mobilization of evidence produced by science. The research used an extensive N survey with bureaucrats from the Brazilian federal public administration. The findings indicate that these two dimensions interact positively for greater use of scientific evidence. However, special attention must be paid to how organizational resources are conceptualized and operationalized. As a specialized unit, the interaction with the ability to identify, collect and analyze data and information related to public policy proved to be important. As a resource or organizational availability, the interaction with the education of individuals proved to be a relevant dimension. Finally, as an organizational relationship opportunity with academia, the interaction with the level of formal education was also significant. Future research should seek to explain why other forms of interaction between individual and organizational capabilities are not relevant, in addition to seeking to understand the causal mechanisms that explain the identified findings.

Key words
Scientific evidence; Individual analytical skills; Organizational analytical capabilities; Federal public administration; Brazil