Why We Cannot Separate Evidence From Values in Public Policy

Anne Schwenkenbecher; Veli Mitova; Hanna Metzen; Helena Slanickova; Alejandro Bortolus; Emelda E Chukwu; Remco Heesen; Chad Hewitt; Ricardo Kaufer; Hannah Rubin; Mike D Schneider; Evangelina Schwindt; Temitope O Sogbanmu; K. Woolaston; Li-an Yu

doi:10.1111/polp.70109

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Why We Cannot Separate Evidence From Values in Public Policy

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Why We Cannot Separate Evidence From Values in Public Policy

Anne Schwenkenbecher, Veli Mitova, Hanna Metzen, Helena Slanickova, Alejandro Bortolus, Emelda E Chukwu, Remco Heesen, Chad Hewitt, Ricardo Kaufer, Hannah Rubin, …

Politics & Policy, Vol.54, e70109

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.70109

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Abstract

Whether or not any particular policy is adequate by EBP's own standard—being evidence-based—cannot be decided without appeal to value-based considerations. We support this claim in two steps. First, we argue that which evidence gets used in policy-making depends on our value commitments, which are rarely made explicit, let alone being the subject of critical and transparent reflection. In other words, value commitments are not just important at the point of spelling out specific policy details and choosing between policy options but they are absolutely essential right from the very beginning of the policy-making process: all the way from deciding which problem should be addressed by policy or regulation to determining which evidence to use and where to look for it. Second, in order to determine when we have enough evidence, we need to take into account relevant value-based considerations.

Details

Title: Why We Cannot Separate Evidence From Values in Public Policy
Authors/Creators: Anne Schwenkenbecher - Murdoch University, School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Veli Mitova - University of Johannesburg
Hanna Metzen - Bielefeld University
Helena Slanickova - University of Groningen
Alejandro Bortolus - Centro Científico Tecnológico Patagónico
Emelda E Chukwu - Nigerian Institute of Medical Research
Remco Heesen - London School of Economics and Political Science
Chad Hewitt
Ricardo Kaufer - Bielefeld University
Hannah Rubin - University of Missouri
Mike D Schneider - University of Missouri
Evangelina Schwindt - Instituto de Biología Subtropical
Temitope O Sogbanmu - University of Lagos
K. Woolaston - Queensland University of Technology
Li-an Yu - Bielefeld University
Publication Details: Politics & Policy, Vol.54, e70109
Publisher: Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Policy Studies Organization.
Identifiers: 991005869905207891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Biosecurity and One Health; School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; Indo-Pacific Research Centre
Resource Type: Journal article

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