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

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

doi:10.5042/jcs.2010.0017

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

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

Authors

Professor Nancy Cartwright nancy.cartwright@durham.ac.uk
Professor

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.

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