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Evidence, External Validity and Explanatory Relevance

Cartwright, N.

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Authors



Contributors

Gregory J. Morgan
Editor

Abstract

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 at the core of the currently heavily mandated evidencebased policy and practice (EBPP): predictions of the form ‘Policy treatment T implemented as, when and how it would be implemented by us will result in targeted outcome O.’ RCTs, or randomized controlled trials, for T and O are taken to be the gold standard for evidence for effectiveness predictions. I question this: Not just whether they are gold-standard evidence, but more, How can they be evidence at all? What makes them relevant to the truth of the prediction that T will work for us?

Citation

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

Publication Date Jun 1, 2011
Deposit Date Sep 17, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Publisher Oxford University Press
Pages 15-28
Book Title Philosophy of science matters : the philosophy of Peter Achinstein.
Chapter Number 2
Publisher URL http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199738625.do

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Accepted Book Chapter (130 Kb)
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Copyright Statement
This is a draft of a chapter that was accepted for publication by Oxford University Press in the book 'Philosophy of Science Matters' edited by Gregory J. Morgan and published in 2011.





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