Doctoral research and policy change: factors influencing impact potential

The study reviewed the literature for a key theme for achieving change in management practice through doctoral research – the influence of that research upon policy. The study investigated the longer-term impact of doctoral research in influencing public policy, broadly defined to include the policies of regulatory and professional bodies. The analysis of the literature included a focus on four specific policy areas: • Children, Young People & Families • Climate Emergency & Just Transitions • Wellbeing • Inequalities. The extant literature covers a diverse range of topics, but little was found which addresses the factors which lead to doctoral research subsequently having an impact on policy. Therefore, the latter part of the paper develops a theoretical framework to address this gap, covering the background of the researcher, the topic chosen, the method used, the participants in the research and institutional support. This framework can be used to analyse specific examples of doctoral research which include policy change in their objectives or where policy change might be a longer- term aspiration. The factors which determine the extent to which doctoral studies are successful in achieving these objectives could influence the content of doctoral training programmes to enhance the impact of engaged management scholarship.