Event Title
Poster: An Information Needs Assessment of Massachusetts State Legislative Staffers
Location
ECC Dining Hall
Start Time
14-5-2009 12:20 PM
End Time
14-5-2009 1:30 PM
Description
Over the last two decades, the demand for evidence-based family and social policies has increased dramatically. This means that policy-makers need access to evidence-based information about social policy solutions. The purpose of this study was to assess the information needs of state legislative staff concerning social problems. A 2008-09 Internet study gathered data from 85 Massachusetts legislative staffers. The staffers were predominantly white, well-educated, worked in Democratic offices, and had worked as staffers for an average of 5.5 years. Analyses indicate that staffers are most concerned about issues pertaining to healthcare costs, education, housing issues, financial stability for families, and the environment. Ninety-six percent of staffers reported that they would be interested/very interested in a website designed specifically for Massachusetts staffers. The results have implications for how researchers can participate in the making of evidence-based social policies and better meet the needs of legislative staff.
Poster: An Information Needs Assessment of Massachusetts State Legislative Staffers
ECC Dining Hall
Over the last two decades, the demand for evidence-based family and social policies has increased dramatically. This means that policy-makers need access to evidence-based information about social policy solutions. The purpose of this study was to assess the information needs of state legislative staff concerning social problems. A 2008-09 Internet study gathered data from 85 Massachusetts legislative staffers. The staffers were predominantly white, well-educated, worked in Democratic offices, and had worked as staffers for an average of 5.5 years. Analyses indicate that staffers are most concerned about issues pertaining to healthcare costs, education, housing issues, financial stability for families, and the environment. Ninety-six percent of staffers reported that they would be interested/very interested in a website designed specifically for Massachusetts staffers. The results have implications for how researchers can participate in the making of evidence-based social policies and better meet the needs of legislative staff.