Hard won lessons learned in the evaluation field

Implications for behavioural insights practice

Bibliographic Data

ID9783302
AuthorsJim McDavid, J Bradley McDavid (corresponding author), Kathryn Henderson (0000-0001-8857-9317)
Year2021
Volume64
Issue1
Pages7-25
Publication date2021-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCanadian Public Administration (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0008-4840 • E-ISSN: 1754-7121
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/capa.12401
OpenAlexW3128396000
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited78

This article explores parallels between the recent emergence of Behavioural Insights (BI) as an applied public policy‐related field and the first years of the evaluation field (dating back to the 1960s). We identify four developments in the evaluation field and implications relevant for BI. We then identify three challenges that lie ahead for BI, with the most significant involving professionalizing BI practice. We identify several advantages to professionalization, one being an improved capacity to speak truth to power. The evaluation field, globally, is exploring steps to professionalize practice, but given the continued emergence of competing approaches, in theory and practice, it is an open question whether professionalization can be successful. Understanding challenges in the evaluation field can inform BI efforts to professionalize as a regular contributor to government assessment and improvement of policies and programs

Engineering ethics · Field (mathematics · Government (linguistics · Parallels · Political science · Power (physics · Professionalization · Public relations · Social science · Sociology · Engineering · Evaluation and Performance Assessment · Health Policy Implementation Science · Psychology · Public Policy and Administration Research

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