Policy Hub
A report published by the King's Fund (Finding out what works: building knowledge about complex community-based initiatives) on 22 November 2004, claims that government commitment to using sound evidence to inform social policy may be at odds with its drive to tackle the root causes of health inequality and social exclusion.
The report welcomes new attempts to strengthen the evidence base, improve evaluation methods and disseminate findings, but in their conclusions, the authors call for:
. More open and inclusive discussion about the unresolved tensions and
dilemmas outlined in the paper.
. Stronger efforts to develop a learning culture in government, among
evaluators and among local practitioners.
. Priority to be given to building knowledge, rather than just to
promoting evidence-based policy and practice.
. Knowledge to be built by integrating the experience of practitioners
and local residents with the findings of researchers, and a more
explicit recognition of the trade-offs required by the political
context of the day.
A summary of the report can be viewed on the King's Fund website