While the term is widely used and accepted, we consider it useful to ground our discussion with the following comprehensive definition:
Evidence-based decisionmaking “helps people make well informed decisions about policies, programs, and projects by putting the best available evidence from research at the heart of policy development and implementation. This approach stands in contrast to opinion-based policy, which relies heavily on either the selective use of evidence (for example, on single studies irrespective of quality) or on the untested views of individuals or groups, often inspired by ideological standpoints, prejudices, or speculative conjecture.”1
Policy research that feeds into evidence-based decisionmaking usually provides an in-depth expert analysis of an emergent policy problem based on empirical data collected in the target context. Such research can have a wide variety of methodological foci and may include, for example, a broad-scale legal analysis, a pilot study evaluation, or in-depth multidisciplinary case studies. Further, an analysis of the potential solutions available to address the problem is also provided. While there is a strong commitment to academic integrity and evidence, policy research is by no means neutral in its analysis, but rather is shaped by the political context in which it is produced and used to propagate the values of those who produce and commission it.2
Evidence-based decisionmaking is driven by empirical analysis of policy problems.
The types of evidence commonly generated through the process of policy research are multiple and varied, but often include some of the following:
- Impact evidence (reviewing effectiveness)
- Implementation evidence (determining effectiveness of implementation and delivery)
- Descriptive analytical evidence (measuring nature, size, and dynamics of problems, populations, and so on)
- Public attitudes and understanding (via methods such as opinion polls or focus groups)
- Statistical modeling (linear and logarithmic regression methods to make sound predictions)
- Economic evidence (cost-benefit/cost effectiveness of policies)
- Ethical evidence (social justice, redistribution, winners and losers).3
Evidence-based decisions bring a focus on solutions rather than just politics and this rebalancing of priorities has been at the heart of governance reform efforts throughout the transition countries for the last 20 years, with varying levels of success in its adoption and implementation.