Policy Hub
With thanks to our speakers for their permission to share their presentations with you.
Can Realist Evaluation tell you 'what works'? - Prof. Nick Tilley, Policing and Reducing Crime Unit Home Office, 17th October 2001
The theory and methods of realist evaluation are covered drawing on experience in the criminal justice field. Nick Tilley is Professor of Sociology at Nottingham Trent University and is currently on secondment at the Home Office.
Evaluating Sure Start - Sam Mason, Head of Evaluation and Health Sure Start Unit, 31st October 2001
Sure Start aims to improve the health and well-being of families and young children so children are ready to flourish when they go to school. This seminar outlines the evaluation framework that has been established to determine the efficacy and cost effectiveness of Sure Start in England. A summary can be viewed here. Sam Mason is responsible for managing the programme evaluation.
The use of propensity score matching (PSM) in labour market evaluations - Alex Bryson, Principal Research Fellow, Policy Studies Institute, 14 November 2001.
PSM is a quantitative evaluation method for estimating the impact of a programme. This seminar will provide a non-technical introduction drawing on practical experience in labour market evaluation.
The role of evaluation in policy making: a Treasury Perspective on Welfare to Work policies - James Richardson, Head of Welfare to Work, HM Treasury
This seminar poses the questions: what does HMT want from evaluators? Are quantitative designs, random assignment in particular, the preferred evaluation models? Do evaluation findings influence policy? James Richardson looks at how evidence has fed into the work of Welfare to Work team in HMT.
Evaluating Tax Credits. Kirsty Pearson, Assistant Director Tax Credit Analysis and Social Policy Inland Revenue
In October 1999 the Working Families' Tax Credit and the Disabled Person's Tax Credit were introduced, replacing Family Credit and Disability Working Allowance. Inland Revenue has embarked on a comprehensive programme of work to evaluate both tax credits. The seminar will cover the policy background and evaluation methods used as well as lessons learned.