Understanding Evidence in Public Policy

Despite the growth of the evidence-based policy movement over the recent decades, the current political climate presents challenges for incorporating evidence of ‘what works’ in policy development. In the context of these contemporary governance challenges, this subject will equip students with the skills to identify different forms of evidence and understand how each of them shapes policymaking. Students will explore how evidence can be ‘used’ and ‘misused’ in the policy process. Through this exploration, they will develop an appreciation for the competing pressures public officials face around evidence and policy knowledge, and how these pressures shape policy choices. The subject will give students the skills to distil different forms of evidence, including scientific data and big data, and transfer global evidence to local contexts. Building on these skills, students will develop nuanced strategies for improving the uptake of evidence in specific policy-making contexts.