Factors influencing the impact of ex-post legislative evaluations: A scoping review

This article explores the factors that influence the impact of ex-post legislative
evaluations and suggests that these factors can be divided into three main
categories: context, research quality, and interaction. Contextual factors,
including the evaluation’s initiation, it’s place in the legislative process, the
varied functions given by stakeholders, and the level of political or social
attention, are beyond researchers’ control. However, researchers can
influence research quality and interaction with stakeholders, such as the
evaluations’ commissioner, as well as the society at large, thereby increasing
the likelihood of achieving impactful results. They should engage with the
evaluation context to improve impact, but must also maintain independence
while being influenced by the context. These findings are in line with the
much broader literature on the impact of policy and programme evaluations
which pays less attention to the policy instrument legislation. Therefore, both
disciplines have an interest in a better exchange of knowledge.