The contributions of Sir Joseph Whitworth to the industrial revolution are notable not because he built bridges, railways, or steamships but because the standardisation he brought to engineering enabled others to do so. Starting in the...

In the UK we have recently seen a range of new evidence centres being launched to combat pressing social issues. Centres launched since 2019 include the Youth Futures Foundation, the Youth Endowment Fund and the Centre...

Earlier this month, the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) published the results of a randomised controlled trial evaluating “Project SUCCESS” – a project in which students at FE colleges and their nominated study supporters were sent text messages to...

I remember being at an academic gathering of healthcare social scientists a few years back. A lot of withering talk of the dominant paradigm of biomedical research and the limitations of positivist thinking.  Then one of...

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the use and communication of evidence. We are still in the midst of a terrifying upward curve of Covid-19 cases in the UK. History may show that countries such as the...

Two common misconceptions At BIT we’ve been doing a growing amount of work in recent years to support third sector organisations and funders to develop their programmes, particularly in the fields of social action and social...

This week, on the 27th February 2020, What Works for Children’s Social Care (WWCSC) will launch its report ‘What Works in Education for Children Who Have Had Social Workers?’ at a joint event with the Alliance...

Part of the backwash of Brexit is that the once-United Kingdom might split up. The Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, riding high on recent electoral success, is calling for a referendum on leaving the United Kingdom,...

A year ago this month – with little fanfare, and in the middle of the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history (35 days!) – the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act was signed into law. It...

Last week saw the publication of the Social Mobility Commission’s evidence review on “Improving attainment among disadvantaged students in the FE and adult learning sector”. This review is welcome – education plays a vital role in...

Around the world, a small but growing movement of experimenters are bringing fresh ideas to how we solve social and public problems. From crafting better services, to making the back-office of organisations more efficient, new methods...

We have now come to the end of our seven years of core funding. So, what next? Firstly, before offering some ideas, it is good to pause and thank the Economic and Social Research Council, the...

One of EIF’s core functions is to see that evidence on early intervention is actually being used in policy, decision-making and practice. Jo Casebourne and Donna Molloy summarise some of the varied approaches we have taken...

Key Messages The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their targets represent global consensus on where we need to be by 2030 Knowing the desired outcomes is only half the story – we also need to know...

Six months ago this week, I walked into the What Works Centre’s office on my first day as Executive Director – excited about the work ahead, and daunted by the scale of the challenges in front...

Nominations are now open for the Political Studies Association Awards 2019, and once again we’re supporting the Best Use of Evidence category. This award recognises a politician or elected official who’s made a policy decision clearly...

‘If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself’, according to captain of industry and business magnate, Henry Ford. Over seventy years after Ford’s death, policy learning is the premise of intermediary organisations...

Last month Belfast hosted a second What Works Summit. Similar to the Summit in February, Campbell UK & Ireland invited What Works Centres (WWC), local researchers, practitioners and policy makers to share and discuss what works...

As Brexit sucks all the oxygen out of British government, it’s easy to miss an important success story. The UK has set up ten What Works Centres (WWCs) to orchestrate the best evidence for frontline professionals...