Why We Cannot Separate Evidence From Values in Public Policy
Politics & Policy, Vol.54(2), e70109
2025
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.
- Why We Cannot Separate Evidence From Values in Public Policy
- Anne Schwenkenbecher - Murdoch University, School of Humanities, Arts and Social SciencesVeli Mitova - University of JohannesburgHanna Metzen - Bielefeld UniversityHelena Slanickova - University of GroningenAlejandro Bortolus - Centro Científico Tecnológico PatagónicoEmelda E Chukwu - Nigerian Institute of Medical ResearchRemco Heesen - London School of Economics and Political ScienceChad HewittRicardo Kaufer - Bielefeld UniversityHannah Rubin - University of MissouriMike D Schneider - University of MissouriEvangelina Schwindt - Instituto de Biología SubtropicalTemitope O Sogbanmu - University of LagosK. Woolaston - Queensland University of TechnologyLi-an Yu - Bielefeld University
- Politics & Policy, Vol.54(2), e70109
- Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Policy Studies Organization.
- 991005869905207891
- © 2026 The Author(s).
- Centre for Biosecurity and One Health; School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; Indo-Pacific Research Centre
- Journal article
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