There are two kinds of research, anticipating and reacting, that may be relevant for policymakers in traffic and travel. But often policymakers do not use research results for their activities. How research results may be of use for policymakers depends on the following factors: (1) do research results enter directly or indirectly into policymaking; (2) are they used instrumentally, conceptually or for legitimizing reasons; (3) the scope of use; and (4) the moment of use. It appears that policymakers often get acquainted with research results in a very indirect way, and that their use is often to legitimize the policymakers' actions. There are many causes for the finding that policymakers do not use research results in an optimal way. This paper reviews some of them. The following recommendations are made: (i) Policymakers should periodically contact researchers to identify relevant topics; (ii) Research institutes should have control over publicity of "their" research results; (iii) There should be not only an information bank, but also a knowledge bank, which should be available to all participants; (iv) More "meta evaluations" should be executed; and (v) research questions should be rephrased in interaction between researchers and policymakers to make clear which policy questions lie behind the initial question. Then executable research questions should be derived from these policy questions. (A)
Abstract