An Analysis of Factors Affecting Policy Research based on ISM Approach (Case Study: Legislative Power)

Policy research as one of the most important stages of policy making, brings policymakers actions closer to policy knowledge. Policy research is the process of conducting research on social issues in order to provide scientific advice to policy makers. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors affecting the policy research in the Iranian legislature. Given that the policy research arm of the legislative branch of government is the research center of the Majlis, research data has been gathered from experts and managers of that institution. In this regard, by combining two themes based on expert interviews and interpretive structural modeling (ISM), it has been attempted to identify and then classify the factors influencing legislative policy research. The findings of the study suggest a four-level model. The first level includes the themes of "influential stakeholder groups", the "objection to the internal procedure of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis)", the second level includes the theme of "ambiguity in prioritizing a plan or bill", and the third level includes the themes of “profitability in some of representatives” and political interests of representatives". Finally, the fourth level contains various themes, such as the "knowledgeable approach of representatives" and the "difference in the viewpoint of research center of government and parliament".