Re-performance: a critical and reparative methodology for everyday expertise and data practice in policy knowledge

This paper introduces and develops an innovative re-performance methodology to reappraise tensions in evidence-based policy-making (EBPM). It conceptualises ‘re-performance’ as re-enacting and/or replicating aspects of another’s research, extending analyses of default, established methods of knowled...

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Main Author: Susan Oman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: OpenEdition 2021-12-01
Series:International Review of Public Policy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/irpp/1833
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author Susan Oman
author_facet Susan Oman
author_sort Susan Oman
collection DOAJ
description This paper introduces and develops an innovative re-performance methodology to reappraise tensions in evidence-based policy-making (EBPM). It conceptualises ‘re-performance’ as re-enacting and/or replicating aspects of another’s research, extending analyses of default, established methods of knowledge-for-policy. Re-performance is an under-utilised concept and this paper synthesises its assorted origins across humanities disciplines to demonstrate its conceptual utility for methods in research on research. Application of the re-performance methodology involves drawing from content analyses and ethnographic methods to understand the context of knowledge production as cultural production, and critical theory lenses to analyse these effects. The methodology was developed over two research projects on well-being and inequality metrics; both are presented to establish this approach as one that was developed in contestation over data and everyday knowledge (Case 1), that can be applied in a way that is reparative (Case 2), and consequently is of use to understanding current international data-policy controversies and crises. Overall, this article demonstrates re-performance as a methodology that recognises complexity in incorporating the social practices of everyday knowledge and expertise in a framework for policy studies in which the focus on data-in-research as performative reveals the effects in and on the cultures they describe.
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spelling doaj-art-6f6cc1f97f25431fbae2f0aa98d22da92025-01-09T16:26:08ZengOpenEditionInternational Review of Public Policy2679-38732706-62742021-12-013329131310.4000/irpp.1833Re-performance: a critical and reparative methodology for everyday expertise and data practice in policy knowledgeSusan OmanThis paper introduces and develops an innovative re-performance methodology to reappraise tensions in evidence-based policy-making (EBPM). It conceptualises ‘re-performance’ as re-enacting and/or replicating aspects of another’s research, extending analyses of default, established methods of knowledge-for-policy. Re-performance is an under-utilised concept and this paper synthesises its assorted origins across humanities disciplines to demonstrate its conceptual utility for methods in research on research. Application of the re-performance methodology involves drawing from content analyses and ethnographic methods to understand the context of knowledge production as cultural production, and critical theory lenses to analyse these effects. The methodology was developed over two research projects on well-being and inequality metrics; both are presented to establish this approach as one that was developed in contestation over data and everyday knowledge (Case 1), that can be applied in a way that is reparative (Case 2), and consequently is of use to understanding current international data-policy controversies and crises. Overall, this article demonstrates re-performance as a methodology that recognises complexity in incorporating the social practices of everyday knowledge and expertise in a framework for policy studies in which the focus on data-in-research as performative reveals the effects in and on the cultures they describe.https://journals.openedition.org/irpp/1833expertisere-performanceEBPMperformativitymethodologycultural studies
spellingShingle Susan Oman
Re-performance: a critical and reparative methodology for everyday expertise and data practice in policy knowledge
International Review of Public Policy
expertise
re-performance
EBPM
performativity
methodology
cultural studies
title Re-performance: a critical and reparative methodology for everyday expertise and data practice in policy knowledge
title_full Re-performance: a critical and reparative methodology for everyday expertise and data practice in policy knowledge
title_fullStr Re-performance: a critical and reparative methodology for everyday expertise and data practice in policy knowledge
title_full_unstemmed Re-performance: a critical and reparative methodology for everyday expertise and data practice in policy knowledge
title_short Re-performance: a critical and reparative methodology for everyday expertise and data practice in policy knowledge
title_sort re performance a critical and reparative methodology for everyday expertise and data practice in policy knowledge
topic expertise
re-performance
EBPM
performativity
methodology
cultural studies
url https://journals.openedition.org/irpp/1833
work_keys_str_mv AT susanoman reperformanceacriticalandreparativemethodologyforeverydayexpertiseanddatapracticeinpolicyknowledge