Historique
Article de Périodique
Theory and methods in comparative drug and alcohol policy research: Response to a review of the literature (2017)
Auteur(s) :
S. BURRIS
Article en page(s) :
126-131
Domaine :
Alcool / Alcohol ; Drogues illicites / Illicit drugs
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Discipline :
SAN (Santé publique / Public health)
Thésaurus mots-clés
COMPARAISON
;
ALCOOL
;
PRODUIT ILLICITE
;
POLITIQUE
;
RECHERCHE
;
THEORIE
;
DEFINITION
Résumé :
Comparative drug and alcohol policy analysis (CPA) is alive and well, and the emergence of robust alternatives to strict prohibition provides exciting research opportunities. As a multidisciplinary practice, however, CPA faces several methodological challenges. This commentary builds on a recent review of CPA by Ritter et al. (2016) to argue that the practice is hampered by a hazy definition of policy that leads to confusion in the specification and measurement of the phenomena being studied. This problem is aided and abetted by the all-too-common omission of theory from the conceptualization and presentation of research. Drawing on experience from the field of public health law research, this commentary suggests a distinction between empirical and non-empirical CPA, a simple taxonomic model of CPA policy-making, mapping, implementation and evaluation studies, a narrower definition of and rationale for "policy" research, a clear standard for measuring policy, and an expedient approach (and renewed commitment) to using theory explicitly in a multi-disciplinary practice. Strengthening CPA is crucial for the practice to have the impact on policy that good research can.
Affiliation :
Center for Public Health Law Research, Beasley School of Law, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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