Using Evidence: How research can inform public services

by Sandra M. Nutley, Isabel Walter, Huw T.O. Davies

This book provides a timely and novel contribution to understanding and enhancing evidence use. It builds on and complements the popular and best-selling "What Works?: Evidence-based policy and practice in public services" (Davies, Nutley and Smith, Policy Press, 2000), by drawing together current knowledge about how research gets used and how this can be encouraged and improved. In particular, the authors explore various multidiscipliary frameworks for understanding the research use agenda; consider how research use and the impact of research can be assessed; summarise the empirical evidence from the education, health care, social care and criminal justice fields about how research is used and how this can be improved and draw out practical issues that need to be addressed if research is to have greater impact on public services. "Using evidence" is important reading for university and government researchers, research funding bodies, public service managers and professionals, and students of public policy and management. It will also prove an invaluable guide for anyone involved in the implementation of evidence-based policy and practice.

376 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2006

Reviews

[Tom Robbins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read for students studying social sciences and interested in social research and its practicalities and impact. This book was a good introduction into social research in general and its use and application, its relationship with policy-makers, practitioners, and the public sector as a whole. There is lots of case studies throughout the book of research in use, and well referenced throughout. The book is a bit repetitive and is ideal to use as a reference book and for skimming. The general conclusion is that research and evidence-making is multifaceted and dependent on contingent factors, although I think i could of guessed that before I read the book.

[Mills College Library]

352.34094 N9762 2007