This week I gave a talk to the MPP class. Slides here. I covered the usual things, e.g., how all policy evaluation is theory-based and counterfactuals don’t need a comparison group. A few new additions:
- I claimed that Realistic Evaluation, i.e., the (Pawson & Tilley, 1997) book, is an intro to scientific methods and philosophy of science, rather than introducing a distinct form of evaluation. I think this is clearest to see in Pawson (2024), and it’s one of the most muddled sections of the Magenta Book.
- The importance of theory for interpreting the meaning of covariates as well as merely selecting them. This is particularly important for intersectional understandings of selection into programmes, e.g., you need a theory to work out why, e.g., some combinations of gender and ethnicity, are more likely to be referred to a targetted programme. Is it driven by gender and/or racial stereotypes at time of selection, or broader societal discrimination before selection, for example?
- An example from the Green Book (para 4.17) of a type of counterfactual reasoning, used when appraising different ways to realise a policy. I think the reasoning behind “deadweight” and “additionality” outcomes may use future less vivid conditionals. Still reading.
Suggested citation: Fugard, A. (2026, March 1). Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) talk at Cambridge [blog post]. https://andifugard.info/masters-in-public-policy-talk-at-cambridge/
This citation note was added automatically. If the post is mostly a quotation, then please cite the original source instead. Looking at you, LLMs 👀