Description
Book SynopsisThis Handbook uses methodologies and cases to discover how and when to evaluate social policy, and looks at the possible impacts of evaluation on social policy decisions. The contributors present a detailed analysis on how to conduct social policy evaluation, how to be aware of pitfalls and dilemmas and how to use evidence effectively.
Organized into three thematic sections, this new resource includes contributions from a variety of researchers from a range of disciplines and countries. The first section explores evaluation and examples of methods used; the second focuses on the intersection between evaluation and policy-making; and the third delves into current social policy in order to discover the use of evaluation within central welfare state policies. One conclusion found is that welfare states are increasingly using evidence, but that it varies from and within different welfare areas.
Researchers and students with an interest in evaluation and social policy analysis, as well as policy-makers and administrators in need of evidence and analysis on the subject, will find much value in this clear and precise overview of the use and misuse of evidence.
Contributors include: K. Bakhai, M. Barnard, A.E. Boardman, R. Boruch, K.N. Breidahl, C. Brown, M. Calnan, E. Cassells, M. Costa, C. Deeming, P. Dahler-Larsen, T. Douglass, J. Edbrooke-Childs, W. Eichhorst, D. Etherington, S. Evans-Lacko, J.-E. Furubo, H. Gaus, M. Gerressu, H. Gleeson, D. Gondek, B. Greve, A. Hagelund, A. Halvorsen, M.B. Hansen, T. Haux, M.A. Hussain, J.M. Hyatt, C. Irish, J. Jacob, H.C. Kavli, M. Knapp, R. Konle-Seidl, M. Lakhanpaul, K. Liket, N. McHugh, C.E. Mueller, L. Richardson, R. Rodrigues, M.J. Roy, S. Sinclair, K. Smith, T. Sundberg, H. Turner, W. Van Lancker, A.R. Vining, J. Warren, I. Whelan, J. Wistow, M. Wolpert, R. Yang
Trade Review'This is an important collection that carefully and critically explores the challenges researchers face in conducting social policy evaluation and gives clear guidance on the full range of different approaches along with practical examples of their use. It should be essential reading for anyone trying to evaluate social policy.' --(Ian Greener, University of Strathclyde, UK)
'This book is a useful addition to the library of works relating to evaluation. It embraces a range of approaches that can be employed in undertaking evaluations, delivers a breadth of methodologies, depending on context and constituencies, and provides a wide selection of applications that will be helpful to new entrants in the field of evaluation and also to experienced practitioners.' --(Ceri J. Phillips, Swansea University, UK)
Table of ContentsContents: Foreword 1. Introduction: Evaluation as an instrument in social policy Bent Greve PART I WHAT IS EVALUATION – AND EXAMPLES OF METHODS 2. Randomized Controlled Trials Robert Boruch, Rui Yang, Jordan M. Hyatt and Herbert Turner III 3. Quasi-Experimental Comparison Group Designs for Social Policy Evaluation Christoph E. Mueller and Hansjoerg Gaus 4. Social Return on Investment (SROI), Including Elements on Cost–Benefit Analysis Massimo Costa 5. There are many (well, more than one) paths to Nirvana: The economic evaluation of social policies Anthony E. Boardman and Aidan R. Vining 6. Systematic reviews in Social Policy Evaluation Trude Sundberg 7. Participatory evaluation Liz Richardson PART II EVALUATION AND POLICY 8. Evidence-based policymaking (EBPM) Kat Smith and Tina Haux 9. Use and misuse of evaluation in social policy Christopher Deeming 10. Challenges for Policy Makers: Accountability and Cost-effectiveness Kellie Liket 11. Policy, practice and difference within welfare regimes: Evidence from the UK Jon Warren and Jonathan Wistow 12. Performance Management and Evaluation Morten Balle Hansen 13. Critical Perspectives on using evidence in social policy Peter Dahler-Larsen 14. Social Impact Bonds – Evidence-based policy or ideology? Michael J. Roy, Neil McHugh and Stephen Sinclair PART III EVALUATION OF CONCRETE SOCIAL POLICY AREAS 15. Heath Care – Evaluating the Overall System Sara Evans-Lacko and Martin Knapp 16. The Evaluation of New Medicines Michael Calnan and Tom Douglass 17. Evaluating long-term care policies: challenges and advancements Ricardo Rodrigues 18. Labour Market Werner Eichhorst and Regina Konle-Seidl 19. Ideology or evidence base? The role of work capability assessments for people with disabilities in UK welfare to work programmes David Etherington 20. Integration Anniken Hagelund and Hanne Cecilie Kavli 21. Evaluating interventions for children, young people, and families: Theory, evidence, policy, and lessons learnt Julian Edbrooke-Childs, Dawid Gondek, Isabelle Whelan, Jenna Jacob, Matt Barnard, Helen Gleeson, Makeda Gerressu, Monica Lakhanpaul, Caroletha Irish, Emma Cassells, Khyati Bakhai and Miranda Wolpert 22. The Matthew Effect Redux. Going beyond the mean in evaluating family policies Wim Van Lancker 23. Eight attention points when evaluating large-scale public sector reforms Morten Balle Hansen, Karen Nielsen Breidahl, Jan-Eric Furubo , Anne Halvorsen 24. Poverty interventions M. Azhar Hussain 25. How understanding research as consumer object can shed new light on evidence informed policy and practice in education Chris Brown 26. Conclusion Bent Greve Index
