Through the process of discussion and deciding what is important and feasible, common language will develop. Understand, respect, and respond to the different needs of policy makers, practitioners, and researchers. Effective research identifies and responds to the questions of policy makers and practitioners. To this end, policy makers need to think carefully and critically about their research needs, and pose questions and provide information to researchers in a timely fashion. Research staff need to respect the multiple roles and responsibilities of state administrators and work closely with their staff to simplify data collection and establish realistic deadlines.
Research methodology can often be stringent in design.
Policy makers and practitioners may be bound by politics, budgets, and complex bureaucracies. Researchers, practitioners, and policy makers must maintain flexibility and creativity throughout the process of gathering and analyzing data. Unanticipated technical and political issues are bound to occur. Once partnerships have been established, institutionalize this capacity so that research and policy development links continue over time. Ongoing efforts are more likely to produce a more comprehensive, valid, and useful body of research.