What Works Now?: Evidence-Informed Policy and Practice

Description

Building substantially on the earlier, landmark text, What Works? (Policy Press, 2000), this book brings together key thinkers and researchers to provide a contemporary review of the aspirations and realities of evidence-informed policy and practice. The text is clearly structured and provides sector-by-sector analysis of evidence use in policy-making and service delivery. It considers some cross-cutting themes, including a section of international commentaries, and concludes by looking at lessons from the past and prospects for the future. This book will be of interest to a wide range of social science researchers, students and practitioners as well as those interested in supporting more evidence-informed policy and practice.

Annette Boaz is Professor of Health Care Research in the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education, Kingston University and St George's University of London. Huw Davies is Professor of Health Care Policy & Management at the University of St Andrews, and co-founder of the Research Unit for Research Utilisation (RURU). Alec Fraser is a Lecturer in Government & Business at King's Business School, Kings College London. Sandra Nutley is Emeritus Professor at the University of St Andrews, and a specialist in using evidence to inform public policy and practice.

"This optimistic yet deeply practical book shares many insights on how evidence can be used to promote better policy and better public services. The authors rightly reaffirm the importance of evidence but don't shy away from the practical difficulties in the way of using it. An indispensable resource." Geoff Mulgan, Nesta "An important and authoritative analysis of the state of evidence-informed policy and practice, across key domains and countries, by an impressive line-up of leading scholars in the field." Steve Martin, Cardiff University "From stakeholder engagement to impact assessment, 'What Works Now?' is the new seminal review of the state of the art (and science) of evidence use." David Phipps, York University "A long anticipated follow-up on What works? and an authoritative text on evidence-informed policy-making." Enrico Reuter, University of York "Excellent as an introduction to evidence-based policy and practice and its evolution across sectors and countries. This is a fascinating and novel set of scholarly and practical reflections on infrastructure, debates and solutions." Kathryn Oliver, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine "... timeliness, breadth and clarity are its essential strengths". LSE Review of Books