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Dr Jack Blumenau appointed to Government What Works Trial Advice Panel

20 February 2020

Dr Jack Blumenau, Lecturer in Political Science & Quantitative Research Methods at the Departmental of Political Science has been appointed to the What Works Trial Advice Panel (TAP) to improve the quality and quantity of impact evaluation across central government.

tap

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. 

Jack joins the Panel as part of a refresh of the membership. The appointment is for 2 years, commencing 20th February 2020.

I’m delighted to be joining the fantastic What Works Trial Advice Panel. The panel is an initiative which brings together academics and policymakers in order to apply the most rigorous research methods to important policy problems. Improving the quality of policy evaluation is essential for understanding "what works” in government, and I’m looking forward to working towards this goal along side a very talented group of academics and civil servants.

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.