How Research
to Action Engagements Work

Rooted in experience. Driven by new perspectives.

Agency Context

We already work alongside agencies and understand the operational environment.

Applied Research Expertise

Decades of field experience and research expertise to help agencies ask better questions, uncover insights and take action.

Problem-first

No set menu. We start with the agency’s challenge, then find the right evidence and expertise.

Actionable by Design

The goal is not a report on a shelf—it’s a better decision the agency can make and measure.

A four-step, collaborative process.

Agencies have more data and research available than ever. The challenge is connecting them fast enough, and with appropriate context, to be useful. That’s why our approach is iterative by design, refining insights and strategies with every lesson learned.

1. Understand

Start with the real-world problem

  • Surface the question, concern, or persistent challenge.
  • Pair what the data shows with what people close to the work know.
  • Define the outcome you want to move and how you will know it changed.

Protects against

Solving the wrong problem

Outcome

A precise question, shared context, and clear measures.

2. Connect

Bring the right people and evidence together

  • Identify relevant research findings, comparable agency experiences, and available data.
  • Match the agency with researchers, analysts, or subject-matter experts who fit the question, as needed.
  • Build the partnership around the agency’s problem and priority outcomes — not a research agenda looking for data.

Protects against

Research that never reaches practice

Outcome

The right expertise, evidence, and plan around the question.

3. Translate

Turn findings into practical options

  • Interpret the data with operational context so the numbers are not misread.
  • Combine what research says, what other agencies have tried, and what your people are seeing.
  • Translate findings into options that fit your agency’s requirements and reality.

Protects against

Data without operational context

Generic solutions that don’t travel well

Outcome

Recommendations that are usable, tailored, and ready to act on.

4. Measure

Learn what works and improve

  • Support implementation, evaluation, and outcome tracking.
  • If something works, figure out how to sustain or scale it.
  • If it does not, distinguish the strategy from the execution, then refine and try again.

Protects against

One-and-done findings

Outcome

Evidence of impact, and a clearer next decision.

The work can start small.

Larger agencies can hire dedicated researchers. Mark43 Research to Action gives mid-size and smaller agencies the same rigor and capacity for the questions that matter to them. Start with the problem you care about and the outcome you want to move.

• Recruitment and retention
• Non-enforcement work and community response
• Staffing, workload, and resourcing
• Strategy or training evaluation
• Violence reduction
• Disorder and quality of life issues
• Responsible roll out of AI or other new tools

Interested in learning more?

We will work with you to scope an engagement tailored to the complexity of your needs, calibrating services and pricing as needed to achieve your goals as the engagement unfolds.

Get started

Mark43 is the trusted leader in public safety technology, providing a secure, all-in-one platform for agencies to save time, stay compliant, and ensure community safety.

Book a Demo

Copyright © 2026 Mark43