Policy Hub
This area describes what constitutes research and evaluation evidence and provides users with links to key sources about evidence and its role in policy and practice. It is divided into four sections.
Evidence is one factor that contributes to policy making, implementation and delivery. Also see a discussion of what research and evaluation evidence is and how it contributes to better policy making.
The first chapters of The Magenta book have now been published. These explain the various types of policy evaluation and describe and explain the main principles of systematic review.
The following sources provide information on evidence-based policy making.
The Modernising Government White paper presents a model of policy making that is shaped by evidence and research including looking at experiences abroad and piloting initiatives to assess their impact.
Information on sources of evidence that can be used in modern policy making can be found in Professional Policy making in the 21st Century. This report also includes practice examples of using research, consultation and expert opinion.
The Better Policy Making (1120kb) report provides many examples of real policies that have incorporated evidence, stakeholder consultation, evaluation and expert advise.
The Campbell Collaboration aims to help people make well-informed decisions by preparing, maintaining, and promoting access to systematic reviews of studies on the effects of social and educational policies and practices. Systematic reviews of research evidence will be prepared and maintained by contributors to the Campbell Collaboration Review Groups and will be designed to meet the needs of those with a strong interest in high quality evidence on 'what works'.
The Campbell [C2] Crime & Justice Coordinating Group is an international network of individuals that will prepare, update and rapidly disseminate systematic reviews of high-quality research conducted worldwide, on effective methods to reduce crime and delinquency or improve justice.
The Campbell [C2] Education Coordinating Group is an international network of volunteer professionals who will prepare, update and rapidly disseminate systematic reviews of high-quality educational and training interventions conducted worldwide that are aimed to improve education and learning.
The Campbell [C2] Social Welfare Coordinating Group (SWCG) is an international network of people interested in the effects of social programs, who prepare, update, and disseminate high-quality systematic reviews of research conducted worldwide on effective methods to promote social welfare, health, and social justice.
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international organisation that aims to help people make well-informed decisions about healthcare by preparing, maintaining and promoting the accessibility of systematic reviews of the effects of healthcare interventions
The Adding It Up website aims to help Government departments to enhance their store of important evidence used to determine the right policies to meet Government objectives, and to share the most up-to-date information about their evidence base
Increasing research impact: early reflections from the ESRC Evidence Network examines some of the contributions made by the ESRC's Evidence Network to the development of thinking on evidence based policy and practice (EBPP).
Great expectations: the social sciences in Britain, the report of the national review of the social sciences was launched on 25 March 2003. The review was carried out by the independent 12-member Commission on the Social Sciences who were appointed by the Academy of Learned Societies for the Social Sciences to 'define the current nature, focus, status, health, and contribution to society of the social sciences in Britain.'
Getting the evidence: using research in policy making is a study by RAND Europe on behalf of the National Audit Office. It examines how Government departments in the UK commission research and how well that research is being used to improve service delivery and develop policies. The full reports and executive summary can be viewed on the NAO website.
Additional sources on evidence-based policy and practice will help you follow the discussion about what constitutes evidence and how it should best be used.
HM Treasury is responsible for the Evidence-Based Policy Fund. This is a 'seed corn' fund that promotes the the supply of research and analysis for cross-cutting policy. It aims to strengthen links between Universities, Research Institutes and Government through the financing of applied research on some of the Government's priority topics. Visit the Adding it up website for information on bidding for funds.