Outputs (7)

A Theory of Evidence for Evidence-Based Policy (2011)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Stegenga, J. (2011). A Theory of Evidence for Evidence-Based Policy. In P. Dawid, W. Twining, & M. Vasilaki (Eds.), Evidence, inference and enquiry (291-322). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.5871/bacad/9780197264843.003.0011

Evidence-based policy is all the rage now. But no one knows quite how to do it. Policy questions do not generally fall neatly within any one of our scientific or social science disciplines, where the standards and rules of evidence for the questions... Read More about A Theory of Evidence for Evidence-Based Policy.

Predicting what will happen when we act. What counts for warrant? (2011)
Journal Article
Cartwright, N. (2011). Predicting what will happen when we act. What counts for warrant?. Preventive Medicine, 53(4-5), 221-224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.08.011

To what extent do the results of randomized controlled trials inform our predictions about the effectiveness of potential policy interventions? This crucial question is often overlooked in discussions about evidence-based policy. The view I defend is... Read More about Predicting what will happen when we act. What counts for warrant?.

Hunting Causes and Using Them: Is There No Bridge from Here to There? (2011)
Journal Article
Cartwright, N., & Efstathiou, S. (2011). Hunting Causes and Using Them: Is There No Bridge from Here to There?. International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, 25(3), 223-241. https://doi.org/10.1080/02698595.2011.605245

Causation is in trouble—at least as it is pictured in current theories in philosophy and in economics as well, where causation is also once again in fashion. In both disciplines the accounts of causality on offer are either modelled too closely on on... Read More about Hunting Causes and Using Them: Is There No Bridge from Here to There?.

Evidence, External Validity and Explanatory Relevance (2011)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2011). Evidence, External Validity and Explanatory Relevance. In G. J. Morgan (Ed.), Philosophy of science matters : the philosophy of Peter Achinstein (15-28). Oxford University Press

When does one fact speak for another? That is the problem of evidential relevance. Peter Achinstein’s answer, in brief: Evidential relevance = explanatory relevance.2 My own recent work investigates evidence for effectiveness predictions, which are a... Read More about Evidence, External Validity and Explanatory Relevance.

A philosopher's view of the long road from RCTs to effectiveness. (2011)
Journal Article
Cartwright, N. (2011). A philosopher's view of the long road from RCTs to effectiveness. The Lancet, 377(9775), 1400-1401. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736%2811%2960563-1

For evidence-based practice and policy, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are the current gold standard. But exactly why? We know that RCTs do not, without a series of strong assumptions, warrant predictions about what happens in practice. But just... Read More about A philosopher's view of the long road from RCTs to effectiveness..

Predicting 'It Will Work for Us': (Way) Beyond Statistics (2011)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N. (2011). Predicting 'It Will Work for Us': (Way) Beyond Statistics. In P. Illari, F. Russo, & J. Williamson (Eds.), Causality in the sciences. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof%3Aoso/9780199574131.001.0001

A great deal of attention in evidence‐based policy and practice is directed to statistical studies–especially randomized controlled trials–that support causal conclusions, which this chapter dubs ‘It‐works‐somewhere claims’. What's needed for policy... Read More about Predicting 'It Will Work for Us': (Way) Beyond Statistics.

A Theory of Measurement (2011)
Book Chapter
Cartwright, N., & Bradburn, N. (2011). A Theory of Measurement. In R. M. Li (Ed.), The importance of common metrics for advancing social science theory and research: a workshop summary (53-56). National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/13034