Policysuch

Policysuch is a term used in policy studies and public administration to describe the deliberate process of searching for, locating, and evaluating policy options, evidence, and precedents to inform decision making. The word combines policy with search, signaling an emphasis on active information gathering as part of policy analysis rather than reliance on a single source.

Practitioners undertake a policysuch by articulating a problem, setting search criteria, and surveying a range of sources, including legislative records, regulatory databases, court decisions, academic literature, think-tank briefs, and gray literature. The aim is to assemble a balanced evidence base and to identify impacts, trade-offs, and implementation considerations.

A policysuch typically involves steps such as screening sources against inclusion criteria, extracting relevant data, synthesizing findings, and documenting methods to enable replication. It is used by policymakers, analysts, researchers, and journalists to support transparent debate and evidence-based decisions. The approach overlaps with systematic reviews, evidence mapping, and policy scanning.

Critics warn that policysuch can be time consuming and prone to bias if sources are cherry-picked or if methodological rigor is lacking. Proponents argue that, when conducted with clear protocols and public documentation, policysuch improves accountability, closes informational gaps, and enhances the legitimacy of policy choices.

See also: policy analysis, evidence-based policy, policy scanning, systematic review, evidence map.