ABSTRACT
Today globalisation impacts the policy process in challenging ways. International studies recognise the need for evidence to address cross-border policy issues, such as the spread of disease, migration, organised crime and climate change, while national issues, such as ageing and addiction, have become shared concerns (Rehm, Taylor, & Room, 2006; Suzman, Beard, Boerma, & Chatterji, 2015). International agencies are increasingly called upon to produce evidence of the impact of their work, and to formulate and implement policy, heightening debates over what types of research methods and research evidence are most useful and desirable to support the policy process (United Nations Evaluation Group, 2015). The rise of technology and ease of global communication have made the transfer of ideas and information simpler and faster, and facilitated international collaboration. The lowering of barriers to the movement of individual researchers between national agencies, international organisations and research institutes globally has facilitated the activities of issue and advocacy networks, and intensified the flow of knowledge across borders (Stone, 2004).
