The Unbearable Enlightenment (and Lightness) of Rigorous Research Evidence in Policy Making

Abstract

In sectors outside of medicine and health care, the promotion and implementation of rigorous research-based evidence in policy making in three, affluent, English-speaking Western countries, namely the U.S., the U.K., and Australia, is futile. There are two components to Evidence-Based Policy Making: the evidence must be used in policy making, and the policy must lead to better outcomes. First, in the U.S. and the U.K., the civil servants are required to use evidence in policy making. Thus, the promotion of evidence use may be a non-issue. Second, there is little empirical support for the effectiveness of evidence use in policy making. Third, politics is an integral part of policy making. Fourth, the policy making process may not be conducive to the use of rigorous research evidence. Fifth, the use of rigorous research evidence may not be appropriate for wicked social problems. Sixth, the use of research evidence is indirect via enlightenment.