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Abstract:
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In recent few decades, social sciences witnessed some phenomenal development in statistical methodology, but lagged behind in application of rigorous research designs as efforts to generate sound evidence, compared to health care and medical fields. Today, policy makers in non-medical public service arenas are under increasing pressure to make sound decisions based on scientific evidence. Some of these decisions are a matter of legal requirement. In this paper, the authors examined the current state of evidence-based practice in social sciences by reviewing the latest development of randomized trials and evidence grading schemes in the fields of education, criminal justice, and social welfare. Studies conducted under the auspices of Campbell Collaboration and What Works Clearinghouse were used to illustrate ingredients of evidence grading schemes and systematic reviews of evidence.
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