Conference exploring the role and use of data and evidence as key components in the development, design and delivery of good public services.
Data and evidence are key components in the development, design and delivery of good, effective public services.
Without them it is impossible to determine what is working (or not working), and why, at the different levels of delivery and reform and at the interfaces between those levels.
For research and evidence to be useful to the development of new public services, they have to be able both to describe how things are, and to identify possible improvements. Producing and using evidence is costly, so methods are needed for deciding when and how evidence should be collected and analysed.
In this event we drew on our experiences of working across and with community planning partnerships to explore:
- the type of evidence used by those who work in our public services
- the role and place of experiential data and statistical data
- how decisions are made about whether, when and how we evaluate
- how this process can be made more transparent, systematic and collaborative.
This event took place on Wednesday 14 November 2018 at The Lighthouse in Glasgow.
Resources
Evaluability assessment
- Evaluability Assessment: Learning from experience of applying EA methods in Scotland – presentation by Peter Craig (PDF)
- Planning evaluation for change / Changing how we plan evaluation – presentation by Richard Brunner (PDF)
- Evaluability Assessment of Thriving Places: a report for Glasgow Community Planning Partnership
- Get all of What Works Scotland resources about evaluation approaches
Making data meaningful
- ‘Making Data Meaningful’: The messy business of evidence use in community planning – presentation by Claire Bynner (PDF)
- What Works in Community Profiling? Initial reflections from the WWS project in West Dunbartonshire – report
- Making Data Meaningful – report
- Unravelling The Evidence To Action Maze – presentation by Vicky Ward (PDF) (Presented at Evidence to Action seminar)
- Community Planning Officials Survey: Understanding the everyday work of local participatory governance in Scotland – report
Practitioner panel
- Jennifer Wallace, Carnegie UK
- Leisha Teixeria, Centre for Homelessness Impact
- Mark MacPherson, Audit Scotland
- Eliot Stark, Strive Third Sector Interface
Responses
Really looking forward to contributing this morning and listening to what others have to say. #WhatWorks @WWScot https://t.co/j49zn7MzWD
— Ligia Teixeira (@LigiaTeixeira) November 14, 2018
‘Research for Change:Beyond What Works’ conference starts with @Nicholastwatson framing day ahead. I’m looking forward to discussing findings & dilemmas about conducting meaningful, applied & critical research in the context of public service reform & austerity @WWScot #WWSConf18 https://t.co/saiEcYoQjk
— CitizenParticipation (@OliverEscobar) November 14, 2018
Dr Peter Craig @UofGlasgow shares thoughts on a collaborative approach to evaluation – evaluability assessment prior to undertaking evaluation @WWScot #researchandevidence pic.twitter.com/z7ldVcH1YJ
— SCSN (@SCSN2) November 14, 2018
This is great! From @ClaireBynner @WWScot @theGCPH @WDCouncil work on making data meaningful for CPP. #researchandevidence pic.twitter.com/O2KCpgHDho
— SCSN (@SCSN2) November 14, 2018
Really interesting talk from @ClaireBynner @wwscot – sharing knowledge is about relationships pic.twitter.com/KtSZVmuCr8
— Jennifer Wallace (@Jen_CarnegieUK) November 14, 2018
Thanks to @WWScot for a fabulous event today #researchandevidence My takeaways are: 1.Stable relationships are important 2.We need Leadership @ all levels 3.Use evidence/knowledge for learning 4. Participation & collaboration are essential 5. Know & communicate WHY you are doing.
— Hannah Dickson (@hannahdix) November 14, 2018
Enjoyable & valuable day @WWScot’s ‘Research for Change: Beyond What Works’. So much said about #partnershipworking resonated with my experiences: ongoing central-local, strategic-operational tensions; the neglect of practical wisdom and the importance of #trust & #relationships
— Ellen Vanderhoven (@E_Vanderhoven) November 14, 2018
RT @irissESSS: Would definitely recommend checking out these #WWScot18 presentations and resources if you’re interested in the use of academic research in social care/services practice/public services in general. https://t.co/qt5snxok2g
— SSKS (@SSKS_online) November 15, 2018
This was the second of three final conferences from What Works Scotland about the present and future of public service reform.
See resources from the first event Empowering People and Places: What works?