Uncovering the practices of evidence-informed policy-making

ABSTRACT

This paper analyses two reports of efforts to strengthen evidence-informed policy-making within government departments; one from the UK and one from the USA. It reveals a series of specific evidence-related practices which share common purposes. These are assessed against Parkhurst's principles of the good governance of evidence. A suite of seven practices is identified that could form the basis for a holistic strategy to embed an evidence-informed approach to policy-making.

KEYWORDS:

• Defra Evidence Investment Strategy
• evidence-informed policy-making
• Federal Invest in What Works Index
• good governance
• government departments