Evidence Led Policy Making
EVIDENCE LED POLICY FORMATION
Teaching Notes
Dr Nick Lockett
September 2022 – June 2023
Part I: The Core Concepts of Evidence-Led Policy]
Chapter 1: The Policymaking Landscape
Learn about defining the policy ecosystem: actors, institutions, and influences.
Are the models of policymaking RIGged? Rational, Incremental, and Garbage Can.
Consider the PESTs: The Political, Economic, Social, and Technological contexts.
The role of public opinion, media, and interest groups.
Chapter 2: The Foundation of Evidence
o The hierarchy of evidence: from anecdotes to Randomized Control Trials (RCTs).
o Navigating data: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods.
o Case studies and their use in policy.
o The critical appraisal of evidence: assessing quality, relevance, and bias.
Chapter 3: Ethical Dimensions
o Ethical frameworks for policy analysts.
o Navigating the politics of evidence: integrity versus political expediency.
o Ethical considerations in data use, privacy, and stakeholder engagement.
o Ensuring equity and fairness in evidence-led policies.
Part II: The Evidence-to-Policy Cycle in Practice
Chapter 4: Problem Framing and Stakeholder Analysis
o Defining a policy problem: From a “felt need” to a “defined issue.”
o Problem Tree Analysis and its application.
o Comprehensive stakeholder mapping: identifying influence, interest, and support.
o Best practices for engaging with diverse stakeholder groups.
Chapter 5: Policy Analysis and Option Appraisal
o The “Eightfold Path” to policy analysis.
o Beyond cost-benefit: utilizing Cost-Effectiveness, Multi-Criteria Analysis, and Impact Assessments (e.g., Environmental, Social).
o Forecasting and scenario planning for a range of possible futures.
o Conducting a “No Change” or “Status Quo” analysis.
Chapter 6: Crafting the Policy Document
o Structuring a comprehensive policy proposal.
o Writing an impactful executive summary.
o Presenting evidence in a compelling and accessible format.
o The role of logical frameworks and theory of change models.
Part III: The Art and Science of Legislative Drafting
Chapter 7: Bridging Policy and Law
o From policy intent to drafting instructions.
o The drafter’s role: interpreter, technician, and advisor.
o Anticipating legal challenges and judicial interpretation.
o The importance of legal certainty and coherence.
Chapter 8: Principles of Statutory Drafting
o The legislative sentence: clarity, brevity, and precision.
o Using consistent terminology and avoiding ambiguity.
o Structuring a bill: parts, sections, sub-sections, and schedules.
o Drafting with a view to future amendments and repeals.
Chapter 9: Drafting Regulations and Subsidiary Legislation
o Statutes versus regulations: understanding the differences.
o The process of drafting delegated legislation.
o Ensuring ultra vires is avoided.
o Drafting for enforcement and compliance.
Part IV: Implementation, Evaluation, and Adaptation
Chapter 10: Policy Implementation Science
o The gap between policy and practice.
o Key concepts of implementation science: fidelity, reach, and sustainability.
o Designing policies for successful implementation.
o The role of pilots and phased rollouts.
Chapter 11: Monitoring and Evaluation
o Designing an M&E framework from the outset.
o Developing robust Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and metrics.
o The distinction between process, outcome, and impact evaluation.
o Communicating evaluation findings to policymakers and the public.
Chapter 12: Continuous Improvement
o Using evaluation findings to revise and adapt policies.
o The concept of the “learning organization” in government.
o Building a culture of evidence use and continuous feedback.
Part V: Getting Life Done
Chapter 13: Disasters and Catastrophes (Course Attendees Only)
Chapter 14: Drafting Policy Techniques (Course Attendees Only)
Chapter 15: Worked Examples (Course Attendees Only)
