Why is an evidence base for policy formation so important?

Policy makers need a good evidence base to inform and support the process of policy formation. The evidence needed broadly falls into two categories:

• evidence to indicate what services are needed to match both individual client needs and broader public policy objectives
• evidence that current policy is having an impact on career guidance practice and, ultimately, upon the lives of those receiving guidance

What is the role of evidence in policy formation?

Effective policy formation requires a strong evidence base, for at least three reasons. The first is to assess the match between career guidance services and public-policy objectives. The second is to assess the need for new or expanded services. The third is to assess the value that those who provide the funding are receiving for their funding investment (OECD, 2004).

What evidence base is needed to support policy formation?

In principle, the evidence base needs to include information on: demand (market research); inputs (resources); throughput (the number and nature of clients); outputs (e.g. production of action plans); client reactions; learning outcomes (e.g. awareness of options); behavioural outcomes (e.g. entry to a course or job); and long-term outcomes (e.g. career success/satisfaction).

In practice, the extent of such evidence in most countries is weak. Even simple client monitoring procedures are not always in place. Evidence on costs and on the extent of public funding devoted to career guidance services is particularly hard to find, partly because the services are often embedded in broader institutional budgets and no attempts have been made to disaggregate them (OECD, 2004).

Some of these forms of evidence could be collected systemically on a routine basis. But some – notably the evidence on longer-term outcomes – requires methodologically sophisticated studies.

Monitoring the impact of policy

It's important to be clear about what policy-makers expect of practitioners and how their efforts should be assessed and evaluated.