The fourth day of the 1st Summer School “From Social Theories to Manageable Data: Building Hybrid Competencies (Social Science * Digital * Policy)” focused on evidence-based knowledge for decision-making, policy analysis, and data infrastructures in social research.

As part of the module “Evidence for Action: Policy Analysis, Interpretation, and Decision Support,” participants explored how scientific findings and ideas are transformed into public policy instruments, expert practices, and media discourse. Particular attention was devoted to policy analysis and the mechanisms through which academic knowledge is translated into the public sphere.

 Presentations were delivered by researchers from the Institute for Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies. Director General Aigul Sadvokassova spoke on scientific outputs in the public sphere; Chief Research Fellow Askar Shomanov addressed issues of political analysis; and Rustem Mustafin, Head of the Center for Digital Social Sciences, discussed expertise and the representation of science in the media.

Within the module “Data Infrastructures in Social Research: Databases, Platforms, and Research Ecosystems,” participants were introduced to international databases and their role in comparative research, including the World Values Survey, Asian Barometer, and the World Religion Database.

A lecture was delivered by Botagoz Rakisheva, Director of the Public Opinion Research Institute and Head of the World Values Survey-7 project in Kazakhstan.

The day was marked by active discussions and the exchange of research approaches between participants and speakers.