The Science of Using Science: Researching the Use of Research Evidence in Decision-Making

The What Works Centre for Wellbeing partnered with the Wellcome Trust, the Alliance for Useful Evidence and the EPPI-Centre at UCL to understand how research evidence can best be used in decision-making.

The results of research studies can be one important component in decision-making by policymakers, professionals, and members of the public. However, such research evidence is not always considered in decision-making, even when relevant research is available. The aim of this research project is to review the evidence-base relevant to increasing the use of research evidence by decision-makers; in other words, to review one aspect of the science of using scientific knowledge.