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Evidence-Based Policy: Where Is Our Theory of Evidence?

Cartwright, N.; Goldfinch, A.; Howick, J.

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Authors

A. Goldfinch

J. Howick



Abstract

This article critically analyses the concept of evidence in evidence‐based policy, arguing that there is a key problem: there is no existing practicable theory of evidence, one which is philosophically‐grounded and yet applicable for evidence‐based policy. The article critically considers both philosophical accounts of evidence and practical treatments of evidence in evidence‐based policy. It argues that both fail in different ways to provide a theory of evidence that is adequate for evidence‐based policy. The article contributes to the debate about how evidence can and should be used to reduce contingency in science and in policy based on science.

Citation

Cartwright, N., Goldfinch, A., & Howick, J. (2010). Evidence-Based Policy: Where Is Our Theory of Evidence?. Journal of Children's Services, 4(4), 6-14. https://doi.org/10.5042/jcs.2010.0017

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 29, 2010
Deposit Date Sep 17, 2015
Publicly Available Date Oct 8, 2015
Journal Journal of Children's Services
Print ISSN 1746-6660
Electronic ISSN 2042-8677
Publisher Emerald
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 4
Issue 4
Pages 6-14
DOI https://doi.org/10.5042/jcs.2010.0017
Keywords Evidence‐based policy, Philosophy of science, Levels of evidence, Children's services.
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1422516

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Copyright Statement
This article is © Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here http://dro.dur.ac.uk/16539/. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.






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