Access, engagement, then impact: factors affecting decision-makers' use of research

Studies have shown that while many factors affect decision-makers' use of research, evidence of what particular engagement actions actually work is very limited. Indeed, increasing access to research appears to be the only intervention to reliably increase use. The Conversation is a free-to-access research communication platform designed to be accessible to general audiences. Pauline Zardo reports on The Conversation Annual Survey, which offered a rare opportunity to examine whether and how readers, including decision-makers, were using research.