Framed by the literature on research-policy transfer, this paper explores a 'real world' task of translating adolescent risk-taking data into 'whole-of-system' services development. It aims to explore challenges and opportunities in using large-N quantitative data analyses of such complex constructs to inform holistic policy-making. It offers a translational research-into-policy model developed using analyses of a dataset of 5122 Tasmanian students in Years 8 and 10. This model provides three levels of translation of the data analyses aimed at meeting the needs of holistic policy-making: broad directions for how services could be linked and/or be separate; multi-service directions targeting particular risk-taking behaviours; and constellations of interventions for specific risk-taking areas. The translational model is described with reference to specific policy decision-making challenges that are about re-imagining what services should stand alone, and what could be brought together, in what ways, and to what end. The model simplifies a complex process and is incomplete; however, it offers a basis for exploring why diagnostic models of research practice often used to consider complex challenges like adolescent risk-taking may not do enough to meet the needs of policy-makers. In so doing it raises deeper questions about research practice for the twenty-first century. © 2008 Taylor & Francis.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:	Public Health and Health Services
Research Field:	Health and Community Services
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health)
Objective Field:	Child Health
UTAS Author:	Bell, EJ (Associate Professor Erica Bell)
ID Code:	54077
Year Published:	2008
Web of Science® Times Cited:	1
Deposited By:	Centre for Rural Health
Deposited On:	2009-02-10
Last Modified:	2014-10-07
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