Evidence and Evaluation in Social Policy

By examining the role of evidence in social policymaking and the extent of its influence, Evidence and Evaluation in Social Policy delves deeply into one of the central questions of the field for the last 20 years. While evidence-based practice has become standard in many fields, such as health policy, in the realm of social policy, it is still gaining traction. This collection chronicles the trend toward implementing evidence-based policy over the last decade. The chapters cover a range of topics and showcase examples from around the world. The coverage includes the role of randomized controlled trials in shaping public policy; the pitfalls of evidence-based policy as a prescriptive ideal; the challenges of measuring public support for policy interventions; and the benefits of engaging local government decision-makers with evaluation research. The contributors assess the ways in which scarce resources can be best used for the best care. They describe methodological innovations, the ways in which researchers and politicians are working together effectively, and suggestions for future improvement. In a time of austerity measures and severe cutbacks to many social programs around the world, this is a forward-thinking examination of ways to develop the best social policy using the research and evidence available.