Evidence-Based Policy: A Realist Perspective

by Ray Pawson

Author Ray Pawson presents a devastating critique of the dominant approach to systematic 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 to understand program theory, so that policies can be properly targeted and developed to counter an ever-changing landscape of social problems.

The book will be essential reading for all those who loved (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.

Genres: Politics

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[An Te · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ray addresses the monistic and objectivist programme that has gripped the imaginations of social, physical and health scientists in their grasp for what works works, where, when and how. Science abstracts away from context with the 'systematic review' and the 'controlled experiment' but must we not know, if you didn't already, that often why an intervention operates the way it does, if at all, if due to innumerable contextual and social factors (Say if no-one had distribute leaflets in the community to raise awareness on the dangers of smoking, did so in areas where coming was not prevalent and where the leaflets were not visible, nor considering what the people they engaged with thought about such pamphleteering!) Ray recaptures what is imperialistic and rigid about the scientific mores that grip the minds of policy-makers and recasts a realist vision for what could work.

Though complexity and philosophical jargon abounds here, Ray's humour and lightness of touch on this complicated issue is a breath of fresh air for those under the illusion that one intervention works this way 'efficacy' in all circumstances...It's very been one-to-one functions, as it were, but always many-to-many-to-many, to borrow his phrasing. The result of which leads to an approach that considers the values, social processes and contributions from places not typically called 'evidence' to see their contribution to the outcome of interest. That is what a realist review is.

For a textbook, a stocking good read!

[Kåre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relevant nok og fin eksponent for positionen som kritisk i forhold til forsøg. Men i min oplevelse også noget outdated, idet flere af ideerne om kontekstualisering jo indgår mange steder. Fx er dette en helt afgørende del af Socialstyrelsens vidensdeklaration. Men Pawsons pointer er naturligvis vigtige nok endda.
Pawsons produkt eller forslag - realistisk review - er meget etnografisk i metoden og som jeg ser det strålende til kortlægning. Det er således grundlæggende en udvidet version af kortlægning, som dette forstås i den traition, som Pawson kritiserer. Jeg har vanskeligt ved at se det egentligt nye, og jeg kan heller ikke se produktet være bedre eller mere salgbart end konkurrentens.

[Albert Domingo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is exactly how I've been doing my essays/research, based on how I saw my mentors in my first job do the same.