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How Does Evidence Matter? Understanding ‘What Works’ for Wellbeing

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  • Ian Bache

    (University of Sheffield)

Abstract

In 2015 the UK launched an independent What Works Centre for Wellbeing, co-funded by government departments and various agencies, which aims to develop a ‘strong and credible evidence base’ to help promote wellbeing in policy. Yet while there is widespread agreement that evidence matters in policy-making, it is far from clear what kinds of evidence matters, in what circumstances and to what extent. In this context, this article presents the findings of research exploring with policy-makers and stakeholders issues in the use of evidence in relation to wellbeing in public policy. In particular, it highlights evidence as a specific form of (research-based) knowledge and considers the importance of this relative to other forms of knowledge; political, professional and experiential. This approach highlights a broader understanding of ‘what works’ beyond the relatively technical sense often employed to describe the work of What Works Centres and in the use of evidence more generally.

Suggested Citation

  • Ian Bache, 2019. "How Does Evidence Matter? Understanding ‘What Works’ for Wellbeing," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 142(3), pages 1153-1173, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:142:y:2019:i:3:d:10.1007_s11205-018-1941-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-018-1941-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Annie Austin, 2016. "On Well-Being and Public Policy: Are We Capable of Questioning the Hegemony of Happiness?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 127(1), pages 123-138, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Martina Street, 2021. "Benefits and Limitations of Eliciting the Well-Being Views of Two-Four Year Olds Living in a Low-Income Area in England," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(2), pages 661-680, April.
    2. Gazi Islam, 2022. "Business Ethics and Quantification: Towards an Ethics of Numbers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 176(2), pages 195-211, March.
    3. Venera Tomaselli & Mario Fordellone & Maurizio Vichi, 2021. "Building Well-Being Composite Indicator for Micro-Territorial Areas Through PLS-SEM and K-Means Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 153(2), pages 407-429, January.
    4. Rossi, Luca & Pasca, Maria Giovina & Arcese, Gabriella & Poponi, Stefano, 2024. "Innovation, researcher and creativity: A complex indicator for territorial evaluation capacity," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    5. Aurea Grané & Irene Albarrán & Qi Guo, 2021. "Visualizing Health and Well-Being Inequalities Among Older Europeans," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 155(2), pages 479-503, June.
    6. Aurea Grané & Irene Albarrán & Roger Lumley, 2020. "Visualizing Inequality in Health and Socioeconomic Wellbeing in the EU: Findings from the SHARE Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-18, October.

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