Using expert opinion in policy making

What’s the issue?

As policy professionals, we have to generate rigorous advice – often on complex issues that require careful analysis. Sometimes we’re under intense time pressure. Often we have imperfect information. How do we grapple with these challenges?

Rigorous policy should be evidence-based. But gathering that evidence, and figuring out what it means, can feel daunting. Maybe there’s not much evidence, like at the beginning of the pandemic, or so much you don’t know where to start. Expert opinion is critical for policy professionals, helping us make sense of the evidence – and a lot of agencies have experts they talk to routinely. But what exactly should you do with expert opinion?

Why does it matter?

When using expert opinion, policy professionals have to figure out how much weight to put on the views of a particular expert. After all, experts are only human, with their own priorities, pressures, and cognitive biases – and different experts hold different views. Put too much emphasis on just one person’s view, and it might affect the rigour of your advice.

What’s the solution?

We like the article Policy advice: Use experts wisely, which offers tips for getting the best out of expert opinion.

In the authors’ view, policy professionals shouldn’t seek out only the best-regarded expert in a field, or use an unstructured process to talk to a group of experts. Instead, policy professionals should ask very specific questions, and be prepared to bring together different experts’ feedback. Policy professionals should be crystal clear about what they need from experts: facts, predictions for the future, or advice on the best approach.

Of course, we need to think about these ideas in our own context. New Zealand policy professionals work on New Zealand issues, and need the capability to draw on New Zealand expertise, including mātauranga Māori.