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The twenty-first century experimenting society: the four waves of the evidence revolution

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  • Howard White

    (The Campbell Collaboration)

Abstract

This paper presents a personal perspective–drawing especially on the author’s experience in international development—of the evidence revolution, which has unfolded in fours waves over the last 30 years: (1) the results agenda as part of New Public Management in the 1990s, (2) the rise of impact evaluations, notably randomized controlled trials (RCTs) since the early 2000s, (3) increased production of systematic reviews over the last ten years, and (4) moves to institutionalize the use of evidence through the emergence of knowledge brokering agencies, most notably the What Works movement in the United States and the United Kingdom. A fifth wave may come from the potential from AI, machine learning and Big Data. Each successive wave has built on the last, and together they comprise the supply side of the evidence architecture. To support the use of evidence demand side activities such as Evidence Needs Assessments and Use of Evidence Awards are proposed.

Suggested Citation

  • Howard White, 2019. "The twenty-first century experimenting society: the four waves of the evidence revolution," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:5:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-019-0253-6
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-019-0253-6
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    1. Ariel Aloe & Eric Barends & Douglas Besharov & Zulfiqar Bhutta & Xinsheng ‘Cindy’ Cai & Marie Gaarder & Ruth Garside & Neal Haddaway & Elizabeth Kristjansson & Brandy Maynard & Lorraine Mazerolle & Ro, 2020. "Editorial: Fifty Campbell systematic reviews relevant to the policy response to COVID‐19," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(3), September.
    2. Falko T. Buschke & Christine Estreguil & Lucia Mancini & Fabrice Mathieux & Hugh Eva & Luca Battistella & Stephen Peedell, 2023. "Digital Storytelling Through the European Commission’s Africa Knowledge Platform to Bridge the Science-Policy Interface for Raw Materials," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    3. Prachi Pundir & Ashrita Saran & Howard White & Ramya Subrahmanian & Jill Adona, 2020. "Interventions for reducing violence against children in low‐ and middle‐income countries: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(4), December.
    4. Janus, Heiner & Marschall, Paul & Öhler, Hannes, 2020. "Eine integrierte Perspektive auf die Wirksamkeit von Entwicklungszusammenarbeit," Analysen und Stellungnahmen 11/2020, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    5. Kaplan, Lennart & Kuhnt, Jana & Steinert, Janina I., 2020. "Do no harm? Field research in the Global South: Ethical challenges faced by research staff," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    6. Christopher Mikton & Marie Beaulieu & Yongjie Yon & Julien Cadieux Genesse & Kevin St‐Martin & Mark Byrne & Amanda Phelan & Jennifer Storey & Michaela Rogers & Fiona Campbell & Parveen Ali & David Bur, 2022. "PROTOCOL: Global elder abuse: A mega‐map of systematic reviews on prevalence, consequences, risk and protective factors and interventions," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(2), June.
    7. Ruth Stewart & Harsha Dayal & Laurenz Langer & Carina van Rooyen, 2019. "The evidence ecosystem in South Africa: growing resilience and institutionalisation of evidence use," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-12, December.
    8. Ashrita Saran & Howard White & Hannah Kuper, 2020. "Evidence and gap map of studies assessing the effectiveness of interventions for people with disabilities in low‐and middle‐income countries," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(1), March.
    9. Richard Manning & Ian Goldman & Gonzalo Hernández Licona, 2020. "The impact of impact evaluation: Are impact evaluation and impact evaluation synthesis contributing to evidence generation and use in low- and middle-income countries?," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-20, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    10. Avdeenko, Alexandra & Frölich, Markus, 2020. "Research standards in empirical development economics: What’s well begun, is half done," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    11. Mundy, Karen, 2023. "Living and learning in the field of international development education," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).

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