Bridging Public Opinion and Policy: Key Insights from a Mixed Methods Analysis

The Australia and New Zealand School of Government and the Australian Public Service Commission commissioned the Monash Sustainable Development Institute to conduct research into how Public Opinion Data (POD) is used, and should be used, in policy development. 

This final report from the project summarises the key findings from the project’s 4 research activities – 3 of which have previously been published by ANZSOG: 

1. Rapid Evidence Review 

2. Analysis of the COVID-19 Pulse Survey administered by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet 

3. Practice Review 

4. Deliberative Dialogue 

The report includes a practice note containing guidance for policymakers using POD in business-as-usual and crisis contexts. 

The practice note explains the circumstances in which POD is most useful, the conditions for credible, sound, and transparent POD use, and how to manage key risks like the appearance of political bias and the tension between methodological rigour and resource availability.