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This book is an excellent resource for evaluators whwish tinform policy decisions with collective insights gained from diverse threads of relevant literatureThis book is timely in its emphasis on the complex, multifaceted nexus between evidence and policy —Chris Milne, Evaluation Journal of Australasia In this important new book, Ray Pawson examines the recent spread of evidence-based policy making across the Western world Few major public initiatives are mounted these days in the absence of a sustained attempt tevaluate them Programs are tried, tried, and tried again and researched, researched, and researched again And yet it is often difficult tknow which interventions, and which inquiries, will withstand the test of time The evident solution, going by the name of evidence-based policy, is ttake the longer view Rather than relying on one-off studies, it is wiser tlook tthe weight of evidence Accordingly, it is now widely agreed the most useful data tsupport policy decisions will be culled from systematic reviews of all the existing research in particular policy domains This is the consensual starting point for Ray Pawsons latest foray intthe world of evaluative research But this is social science after all and harmony prevails only in the first chapter Thereafter, Pawson presents a devastating critique of the dominant approach tsystematic review - namely the meta-analytic approach as sponsored by the Cochrane and Campbell collaborations In its place is commended an approach that he terms realist synthesis On this vision, the real purpose of systematic review is better tunderstand program theory, sthat policies can be properly targeted and developed tcounter an ever-changing landscape of social problems The book will be essential reading for all those whloved (or loathed) the arguments developed in Realistic Evaluation (Sage, 1997) It offers a complete blueprint for research synthesis, supported by detailed illustrations and worked examples from across the policy waterfront It will be of especial interest tpolicy-makers, practitioners, researchers and students working in health, education, employment, social care, criminal justice, regeneration, and welfare
