Saúl Pérez-González
(University of Valencia)

Beyond the Surface: Exploring the Potential of Mechanisms in Evidence-Based Policy

16/02/2024

11:30 -13:00 CET

Abstract

Evidence-based policy has achieved great relevance in policy-making and social
research. Nonetheless, over the past few years, several problematic aspects of this
approach have been identified. This paper discusses whether, and to what extent,
evidence of mechanisms could contribute to addressing certain difficulties faced by
evidence-based policy. I argue that it could play a crucial role in the assessment of the
efficacy of interventions, the extrapolation of interventions to target populations, and
the identification of side effects. For analysing the potential contribution of evidence of
mechanisms, the previous debate on the pluralist approach to evidence-based medicine
is taken as reference.