An explanation and analysis of the gap between academic research and policy-making; a case study of the articles of Iranian policy journals

There has been much debate in recent years about the role of academic research in, and its impact on, policymaking in scientific and political circles. Many scholars in this field emphasize the importance of filling the gap between research and policy-making. Several strategies have been proposed to bridge the gap and thereby enhance the role of academic research in the policy process. One of these strategies is to change the approach of research products from descriptive-explanatory knowledge production to prescriptive knowledge one. Shifting from descriptive-explanatory to prescriptive, and paying attention to the nature of prescribing and its accreditation methods can provide a link between policy research and policy action. In this paper, we will, firstly, explain the importance of this strategy, along with other solutions. In the second step, we will represent the main differences between descriptive-explanatory and prescriptive research. Distinguishing ‘prescriptive research’ from ‘research with prescription’ we will also provide a more detailed analysis of the concept of prescription. In the third step, by studying 100 articles published in three specialized journals of policymaking in Iran, we will review their approach and research goals in light of the main concerns of this research. According to the findings of this study, most of the articles had a descriptive-explanatory approach and most of the articles containing prescriptive statements did not meet the criteria for prescriptive research.