Cookies help us display personalized product recommendations and ensure you have great shopping experience.

By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
SmartData CollectiveSmartData Collective
  • Analytics
    AnalyticsShow More
    data analytics and truck accident claims
    How Data Analytics Reduces Truck Accidents and Speeds Up Claims
    7 Min Read
    predictive analytics for interior designers
    Interior Designers Boost Profits with Predictive Analytics
    8 Min Read
    image fx (67)
    Improving LinkedIn Ad Strategies with Data Analytics
    9 Min Read
    big data and remote work
    Data Helps Speech-Language Pathologists Deliver Better Results
    6 Min Read
    data driven insights
    How Data-Driven Insights Are Addressing Gaps in Patient Communication and Equity
    8 Min Read
  • Big Data
  • BI
  • Exclusive
  • IT
  • Marketing
  • Software
Search
© 2008-25 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Test, Learn, Adapt: Using Analytics to Improve Public Policy
Share
Notification
Font ResizerAa
SmartData CollectiveSmartData Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • About
  • Help
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
SmartData Collective > Data Management > Culture/Leadership > Test, Learn, Adapt: Using Analytics to Improve Public Policy
AnalyticsCulture/LeadershipDecision ManagementKnowledge ManagementPolicy and Governance

Test, Learn, Adapt: Using Analytics to Improve Public Policy

Timo Elliott
Timo Elliott
3 Min Read
SHARE

test_learn_adapt

test_learn_adapt

Ben Goldacre of Bad Science fame has co-written a UK Cabinet Office paper on how to improve government policy through better analysis, in the form of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

A qualified doctor and professional debunker of bad medical analysis, Goldacre notes that RCTs are so widely used in areas such as medicine and web advertising that “failing to do them would be regarded as bizarre, or even reckless.”

More Read

WayIn Adds Another Dimension to Polling
SAP Enters Predictive Analytics Space
Data Scientist Team: Question and Answer
Word of the day
7 Ways Businesses are Leveraging Hadoop

However, using RCTs to test different approaches to solving public policy problems in social welfare, education, crime, and justice remains rare (see chart below).

image

The paper is a very clear introduction to how RCTs work and why they are so important. The various myths that prevent their wider usage (cost, effort, fairness, etc.) are thoroughly debunked.

The document includes UK examples of RCT successes: trials showed that text messages were effective at prompting people to pay fines on time, but giving the unemployed administratively-cheaper online alternatives to “signing on” every two weeks increased the time it took them to find work.

One example clearly communicates the value of the RCT approach. The US “Scared Straight” program attempted to deter juvenile delinquents from criminal behavior by exposing them to the “frightening realities of leading a life of crime.”

Scared Straight claimed success rates of up to 94%, and was copied in other countries – but the program had not included a control group. A later meta-analysis of randomized trials concluded that the program in fact led to higher rates of offending: “doing nothing would have been better than exposing juveniles to the program.”

The costs associated with the program were over 30 times higher than the benefits – meaning taxpayers spent a significant amount of money to actively increase crime!

The white paper is a great read for anybody interested in persuading others in their organization of the importance of using analytic techniques such as RCTs to improve outcomes — you can download it from the Cabinet Office website.

 

Share and Enjoy

• Facebook • Twitter • Delicious • LinkedIn • StumbleUpon • Add to favorites • Email • RSS

Share This Article
Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn
Share

Follow us on Facebook

Latest News

AI Document Verification for Legal Firms: Importance & Top Tools
AI Document Verification for Legal Firms: Importance & Top Tools
Artificial Intelligence Exclusive
AI supply chain
AI Tools Are Strengthening Global Supply Chains
Artificial Intelligence Exclusive
data analytics and truck accident claims
How Data Analytics Reduces Truck Accidents and Speeds Up Claims
Analytics Big Data Exclusive
predictive analytics for interior designers
Interior Designers Boost Profits with Predictive Analytics
Analytics Exclusive Predictive Analytics

Stay Connected

1.2kFollowersLike
33.7kFollowersFollow
222FollowersPin

You Might also Like

How to Turn Your Data from Archenemy to Ally

4 Min Read

Predictive Analytics in Healthcare

4 Min Read
Image
AnalyticsBig DataData ManagementData MiningData QualityData WarehousingExclusiveHadoopPredictive Analytics

The Driving Force Behind Big Data: Data Connectivity

8 Min Read

Adding Social Elements to Intranet? Don’t Forget Change Management

7 Min Read

SmartData Collective is one of the largest & trusted community covering technical content about Big Data, BI, Cloud, Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, IoT & more.

AI and chatbots
Chatbots and SEO: How Can Chatbots Improve Your SEO Ranking?
Artificial Intelligence Chatbots Exclusive
data-driven web design
5 Great Tips for Using Data Analytics for Website UX
Big Data

Quick Link

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-25 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Go to mobile version
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?