State-Level Interrupted Time Series of the Family Impact Seminars: A National Infrastructure for Improving the Use of Research Evidence

The Family Impact Seminars (FIS) are an established infrastructure for improving states’ use of research evidence in child and family policy. FIS is a reputed non-partisan model for knowledge brokering in over a dozen states. Qualitative studies suggest participation in the seminars increases instrumental, conceptual, procedural, and relational uses of research evidence. Scott and colleagues will extend the existing research base and employ a quasi-experimental design using interrupted time series analysis to assess the use of research evidence as reflected in the language of the bills in state government. Observed use of research evidence will be assessed using content analysis of state legislation. Autoregressive integrated moving average models will be used to model how the proportion of seminar-relevant bills referencing research evidence changes following seminar events. The findings from this study may inform and improve the implementation of the FIS and contribute to the literature on the use of research evidence within state policymaking. The team will share findings through academic products and briefs for policy audiences posted on the Family Impact Institute and affiliated states’ websites.