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Lookup NU author(s): Jan Walker, Dr Heather Dickinson
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The formulation of evidence-based policy necessitates rigorous, objective evaluation of policy initiatives and, consequently, there has been a significant growth in evaluation of social policy over the last ten years. Alongside this, there is a recognition that the application of new policy initiatives needs to be flexible in order to be relevant to local populations. As a result, pilots and pathfinders are encouraged to undertake local evaluations in addition to national evaluations commissioned by central government. These dual evaluations are seen as a vehicle to provide evidence on effectiveness whilst accommodating heterogeneity of needs and provision. We suggest that without clear delineation of roles, dual evaluations are inefficient, likely to put additional pressure on busy practitioners (and the recipients of new services) to comply with varying data demands, and present policy makers with confusing messages. In this article we focus on the potential for local and national evaluations to reach different conclusions by demonstrating how a simplistic application of quantitative techniques at local level can lead to inappropriate conclusions which contradict national findings. We make a number of recommendations that might facilitate better coordination of local and national evaluations.
Author(s): Pennington M, Gray J, Donaldson C, Walker J, Dickinson H
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Public Policy and Administration
Year: 2012
Volume: 27
Issue: 2
Pages: 145-167
Print publication date: 20/09/2011
ISSN (print): 0952-0767
ISSN (electronic): 1749-4192
Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0952076711403537
DOI: 10.1177/0952076711403537
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