Alex Sutherland, Chief Scientist and Director of Research and Evaluation at the Behavioural Insights Team, has been appointed to the What Works Trial Advice Panel (TAP) to improve the quality and quantity of impact evaluation across central government.
Comprising around 50 experts from outside government (mostly academia) and the Civil Service, the Panel provides free advice to policy teams and analysts considering the design of an impact evaluation, from helping with power calculations to advising on appropriate quasi-experimental approaches. TAP also provides training to civil servants on the benefits and technicalities of impact evaluations.
Since its launch in 2015 the panel has advised on 72 projects across 24 departments and public bodies, spanning a range of policy areas including energy, adult social care, housing, and family services.
Alex Sutherland joins the Panel as part of a refresh of the membership. The appointment is for 2 years, commencing 20th February 2020.
Alex Sutherland said: “I’m really excited to help support the government’s continued efforts to make empiricism and testing part and parcel of how policy is done. Evaluation has a crucial role to play in effective policy-making and the TAP is helping to ‘industrialise’ these efforts – and this way of thinking – across government.”
For more information and examples of TAP’s work, read the three year update report and check out this blog post from one of the existing academic members.
Get in touch if you have questions or would like to know more: trialadvicepanel@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
