A trusted repository of a wide range of data, the UK Data Service connects those conducting research in the public interest with data collected by range of organisations, including some of the UK’s most prominent data...

A ceasefire may have been declared in the paradigm wars but ideas about what counts as real evidence runs deep argues Dr Cathy Sharp, Director of Research for Real. We lose too many chances to learn...

In the first in a series of blogs David Walker, the Academy of Social Sciences’ Head of Policy, asks how could Labour’s strong record on evidence translate if 2015 results in a Labour government? He argues...

The 2015 General Election will see the growth of fact-checking, according to participants in our recent roundtable. Ground-breaking innovative fact checking initiatives will make journalists, politicians and the public twice about their claims, writes Jonathan Breckon,...

The Conversation and Alliance for Useful Evidence have joined together to launch Manifesto Check for the 2015 general election, writes Megan Clement. Use experts from a range of academic disciplines we will scrutinise the claims and...

The early days of devolution failed to deliver on their promise of ‘national laboratories’, where we could test different approaches to public services reform. Now, argues Professor Steve Martin, times have changed and the newly established Public...

Policy makers and commissioners alike want to identify best evidence. The argument goes that the application of empirical evidence should promote better policies, improve services and promote the more efficient use of resources, but it has...

At a recent Alliance conference, ‘Evidence and well-being’, attendees explored how well-being initiatives would benefit from a dedicated What Works Centre and how the Centre might work in practice, videos of the presentations can be found here. This...

Adrian Bethune argues that the happiness and well-being of our children should be the main aim and purpose of our education system and a What Works Centre for well-being will lead the way – gathering the...

Evaluating a complex community initiative like Well London is always going to be a challenge. A What Works Centre for Well-being would, Alison Pearce argues, help organisations to network and share information – getting evidence out...

What drives well-being? Sam Smethers argues that relationships are the key to our well-being and interventions must focus on this if they are to help their clients cope with the challenges they face. Current research focuses...

Children with higher levels of well-being do better academically, according to evidence discussed by Joe Hayman, Chief Executive of the PSHE Association. But the balance of accountability in schools is biased towards academic outcomes. We need...