Print| Forthcoming Reports |
PMPA/National School of Government Practitioner Exchange 2007:
What is evidence and how do we make best use of it?
During 2007 the National School of Government and the Public Management and Policy Association (PMPA) collaborated on a series of workshops on the theme of "evidence and policy". Speakers included Professors of Public Policy from UK universities, senior civil servants with experience of using evidence to influence specific policy programmes, and consultants or "knowledge-brokers" who encouraged fruitful exchange to support policy-making.
The discussions covered the nature of evidence and what information we consider to be admissible as evidence for policy making; how that is influenced by who presents the evidence to us, and the way in which evidence is "weighed" as part of the policy-making process. The discussions also produced a number of recommendations for change, including a desire for more opportunities for academic-practitioner interaction, joint work and joint discussion, and a perception that there was a need for additional training and development on the skills for seeking out evidence and weighing its value.
The debates and the discussions held in the workshops will be published as a PMPA Report later this year, priced £10. If you are interested in receiving a copy when available, please email info.pmpa@cipfa.org.