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The limitations of quantitative social science for informing public policy

Jerrim, J; De Vries, R; (2015) The limitations of quantitative social science for informing public policy. Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice , 13 (1) pp. 117-133. 10.1332/174426415X14431000856662. Green open access

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Abstract

Quantitative social science (QSS) has the potential to make an important contribution to public policy. However it also has a number of limitations. The aim of this paper is to explain these limitations to a non-specialist audience and to identify a number of ways in which QSS research could be improved to better inform public policy.

Type: Article
Title: The limitations of quantitative social science for informing public policy
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1332/174426415X14431000856662
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1332/174426415X14431000856662
Language: English
Additional information: This is a post-peer-review, pre-copy edited version of an article published in Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice. The definitive publisher-authenticated version, Jerrim, J; De Vries, R; (2016) The limitations of quantitative social science for informing public policy. Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice, is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1332/174426415X14431000856662 - See more at: http://www.policypress.co.uk/info_archiving.asp?#sthash.e5glOzk0.dpuf
Keywords: Independent verification; replication; publication bias; statistical uncertainty; public policy
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Social Research Institute
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1474166
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