Evaluation for the Real World : The Impact of Evidence in Policy Making

Evaluation research findings should be a key element of the policy-making process, yet in reality they are often disregarded. This valuable book examines the development of evaluation and its impact on public policy by analysing evaluation frameworks and criteria which are available when evaluating public policies and services. It further examines the nature of evidence and its use and non-use by decision-makers and assesses the work of influential academics in the USA and UK in the context of evaluation and policy making. The book emphasises the 'real world' of decision-makers in the public sector and recognises how political demands and economic pressures can affect the decisions of those who commission evaluation research while providing recommendations for policymakers on adopting a different approach to evaluation. This is essential reading for under-graduate and post-graduate students of policy analysis and public sector management, and those who are involved in the planning and evaluation of public policies and services.Evaluation research findings should be a key element of the policy-making process, yet in reality they are often disregarded. This valuable book examines the development of evaluation and its impact on public policy by analysing evaluation frameworks and criteria which are available when evaluating public policies and services. It further examines the nature of evidence and its use and non-use by decision-makers and assesses the work of influential academics in the USA and UK in the context of evaluation and policy making. The book emphasises the 'real world' of decision-makers in the public sector and recognises how political demands and economic pressures can affect the decisions of those who commission evaluation research while providing recommendations for policymakers on adopting a different approach to evaluation. This is essential reading for under-graduate and post-graduate students of policy analysis and public sector management, and those who are involved in the planning and evaluation of public policies and services EVALUATION FOR THEREAL WORLD Contents Preface Acknowledgements 1. Evaluation in the political and academic worlds The emergence of evaluation What do we mean by the ‘real world’? Evaluation in the political context The development of evaluation Evaluation in the academic context Concluding comment 2. What is meant by ‘evaluation’? Measurement of performance The politics of evaluation The policy-making process and evaluation Forms of evaluation Concluding comment 3. Designing evaluations Methodological issues and the nature of evidence Evaluation frameworks Concluding comment 4. Selecting evaluation criteria Common evaluation criteria The story becomes further complicated Concluding comment 5. Developments in economic evaluation Introduction The need for economic evaluation The notion of cost Measuring and valuing effects: outcomes and impacts Addressing the challenges Importance and significance of whole systems frameworks System deficiencies within complex systems and their effect on the evaluation process Economics and evidence-based policy Developing a research agenda Concluding note 6. The impact of evaluation on decision making Impact theory Impact assessment The utilisation of evaluation research findings Evaluation and decision making: facts or assumptions? The impact of evaluation on decision making: what do we know? Concluding note 7. The future for evaluation Systematic reviews Meta-analysis Meta-evaluation Meta-evaluation of single evaluations and sets of studies The future of meta-evaluation A return to the experimental design? Evaluating ‘process’ In search of theory Where is ‘policy evaluation’? Concluding comment 8. Concluding thoughts Locating evaluation in the real world Index Untitled

Evaluation research findings should be a key element of the policymaking process, but in reality, they are often disregarded. Evaluation for the Real World examines the use—and nonuse—of evaluation research by decision makers. Analyzing the frameworks and criteria of various evaluation procedures, it highlights the impact evaluation has on public policy with an emphasis on the real world of decision making in the public sector and the political and economic pressures it faces. Assessing the work of influential academics in both the United States and UK, the authors formulate strong arguments for the adoption of a different approach to evaluation.

 

Colin Palfrey has worked for a number of local UK authorities and several universities. Paul Thomas is an honorary research fellow at Swansea University, and he chairs two multi-agency working groups on public involvement in decision-making. Ceri Phillips is professor of health economics and head of research at the School of Human and Health Sciences at Swansea University. Together the three are coauthors of Policy Evaluation in the Public Sector and Evaluating Health and Social Care.  

La 4e de couv. indique : "Evaluation research findings should be a key element of the policy-making process, yet in reality they are often disregarded. This valuable book examines the development of evaluation and its impact on public policy by analysing evaluation frameworks and criteria which are available when evaluating public policies and services. It further examines the nature of evidence and its use and non-use by decision-makers and assesses the work of influential academics in the USA and UK in the context of evaluation and policy making. The book emphasises the 'real world' of decision-makers in the public sector and recognises how political demands and economic pressures can affect the decisions of those who commission evaluation research while providing recommendations for policymakers on adopting a different approach to evaluation. This is essential reading for under-graduate and post-graduate students of policy analysis and public sector management, and those who are involved in the planning and evaluation of public policies and services." "Evaluation research findings should be a key element of the policy making process, yet in reality they are often disregarded. This valuable book examines the development of evaluation and its impact on public policy by analysing evaluation frameworks and criteria which are available when evaluating public policies and services. It further examines the nature of evidence and its use and non-use by decision-makers and assesses the work of influential academics in the USA and UK in the context of evaluation and policy making. The book emphasises the 'real world' of decision-makers in the public sector and recognises how political demands and economic pressures can affect the decisions of those who commission evaluation research while providing recommendations for policymakers on adopting a different approach to evaluation. This is essential reading for under-graduate and post-graduate students of policy analysis and public sector management, and those who are involved in the planning and evaluation of public policies and services."--Publisher's description Colin Palfrey, Paul Thomas And Ceri Phillips. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.