What counts as ‘evidence’? The complexities of providing evidence to inform public policy

Sally Shortall discusses why evidence-based policy implicitly assumes a linear relationship between research evidence and policy formation. The reality is much more complex. There are power struggles between different groups presenting different interpretations of the world, political ideology is a key driver of policy making, resources are finite, and policies must be palatable with the electorate. This talk will explore the complexities of evidence based policy.

This seminar took place on the 22nd March 2012.

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