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The State of Evidence-Based Policy Evaluation and its Role in Policy Formation

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  • Philip Davies

Abstract

This paper argues that evidence-based policy has clearly made a worldwide impact, at least at the rhetorical and institutional levels, and in terms of analytical activity. The paper then addresses whether or not evidence-based policy evaluation has had an impact on policy formation and public service delivery. The paper uses a model of research-use that suggests that evidence can be used in instrumental, conceptual and symbolic ways. Taking four examples of the use of evidence in the UK over the past decade, this paper argues that evidence can be used instrumentally, conceptually and symbolically in complementary ways at different stages of the policy cycle and under different policy and political circumstances. The fact that evidence is not always used instrumentally, in the sense of “acting on research results in specific, direct ways†(Lavis et al. , 2003, p. 228), does not mean that it has little or no influence. The paper ends by considering some of the obstacles to getting research evidence into policy and practice, and how these obstacles might be overcome.

Suggested Citation

  • Philip Davies, 2012. "The State of Evidence-Based Policy Evaluation and its Role in Policy Formation," National Institute Economic Review, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 219(1), pages 41-52, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:niesru:v:219:y:2012:i:1:p:r41-r52
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    Cited by:

    1. Jacqueline Sohn, 2018. "Navigating the politics of evidence-informed policymaking: strategies of influential policy actors in Ontario," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Christian Adam & Yves Steinebach & Christoph Knill, 2018. "Neglected challenges to evidence-based policy-making: the problem of policy accumulation," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 51(3), pages 269-290, September.
    3. Omar Al-Ubaydli & John List & Claire Mackevicius & Min Sok Lee & Dana Suskind, 2019. "How Can Experiments Play a Greater Role in Public Policy? 12 Proposals from an Economic Model of Scaling," Artefactual Field Experiments 00679, The Field Experiments Website.
    4. Anton Morozov, 2018. "Alternative Sources of Statistical Information as the Basis for Political Decision Making," Public administration issues, Higher School of Economics, issue 2, pages 50-70.
    5. Морозов А. Н., 2018. "Альтернативные Источники Статистической Информации Как Основа Принятия Политических Решений," Вопросы государственного и муниципального управления // Public administration issues, НИУ ВШЭ, issue 2, pages 50-70.
    6. Brian G. Fitzgerald & Travis O'Doherty & Richard Moles & Bernadette O'Regan, 2015. "Quantitative Evaluation of Settlement Sustainability Policy (QESSP); Forward Planning for 26 Irish Settlements," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-21, February.
    7. Leighton Andrews, 2017. "How can we demonstrate the public value of evidence-based policy making when government ministers declare that the people ‘have had enough of experts’?," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(1), pages 1-9, December.

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