Immigration policy and research in Canada: Pure or applied?

Absttact A reoiew of Canadian immigration research, published between 1-980 and 1998, suggests that research had only a limited impact on policies and programmes. Economists seemed to hnzte more influence thnn psychologists, sociologists or demogra-phers. Alternatiae models of the way research may enter the policy decision-making process are described. Asystems model recognises the competing influence of special interest groups and the influence of public opinion. Emphasis is placed on the need for academic researchers to make their conclusions known expeditiously, in order to ueate a more enlightened public. Ksywonos: IMMIGRATIoN; AppLIED RESEARCH; Carueoe A key question in policy studies concerns the utilisation of research in policy-making. Dobuzinskis (1996: 118-9) noted that there has been a burgeoning Iiterature on the utilisation of social science research in policy-making, but not much has been written on the Canadian case. However, Brooks and Gagnon (1988, 1,990) traced the changes that have occurred since World War II, compar-ing the experience of Quebec with that of English Canada, concerning social