18/05/2015
Following on from our previous article on the ecological footprint indicator, we examine its strengths and weaknesses as an indicator. Read more here: https://evidentiary101.wordpress.com/2015/05/13/part-2-the-strengths-and-weaknesses-of-the-ecological-footprint-analysis-as-an-indicator/
Part 2 – the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Ecological Footprint Analysis as an indicator
In part 2 of our series on the Ecological Footprint Analysis Indicator, we consider some of its strengths and weaknesses. Strengths of the Ecological Footprint Analysis Its universality and adaptab...
18/05/2015
In this series we discuss the well known indicator, the 'ecological footprint analysis', outlining its origin and history, who uses it and where. Read the full article here: https://evidentiary101.wordpress.com/2015/03/16/the-ecological-footprint-analysis-as-an-indicator-its-history-who-uses-it-and-its-strengths-and-weaknesses/
The ecological footprint analysis as an indicator
This article begins with a brief discussion of what indicators are and why they are a crucial to managing ecosystem sustainability. It then examines the Ecological Footprint Analysis (EFA), discuss...
18/05/2015
Irrigation - can it be both water and energy efficient? While the water efficiency of irrigation systems has improved significantly, water efficient irrigation systems often consume a lot more energy. Evidentiary, along with NSW Farmers and Jason Alexandra of Alexandra & Associates undertook a scoping study that set out to identify critical issues and opportunities for promoting the adoption of energy efficiency in irrigation. Read a summary of the review findings here: https://evidentiary101.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/irrigation-can-it-be-both-water-and-energy-efficient/
Irrigation - can it be both water and energy efficient?
Over recent decades there has been major public and industry funded research and development in irrigation water efficiency, partly driven by the millennium drought.While most irrigators that have ...
23/02/2015
It is imperative that the ethical question, “Is this what we ought to do” is fully embraced and respected by the environmental sector and our society at large. In our blog series on environmental ethics, we will unpack ethical conundrums using differing philosophical theories.
Read more here: https://evidentiary101.wordpress.com/2015/02/19/ethics-and-envionmental-decison-making/
23/02/2015
What's your risk profile - if you were one of the three little pigs, would you build your house out of straw, sticks or bricks? It's easy in retrospect to say 'bricks of course!' but the foresight required to consider the evidence around a project or intervention is not always present. Decision making and policy formation in environmental management is no exception, as we discuss in the article below: https://evidentiary101.wordpress.com/2015/02/17/the-lazy-mind-straw-sticks-and-bricks-whats-your-risk-profile/
23/02/2015
Are you a system 1 or a system 2 thinker?
In his international best seller 'Thinking fast and slow', Daniel Kahneman provides a fascinating insight into how we think and make decisions. Could it be that our brains' preference for system 1 thinking (suppression of doubt, confirmation of existing beliefs, intuitive judgement and impulsive likes and dislikes) can explain the resistance to actually undertaking evidence based decision making?
Read the full article here: https://evidentiary101.wordpress.com/2015/02/15/our-lazy-mind-is-this-the-reason-we-dont-use-evidence/
13/01/2015
What do wind farms and Miss America have in common? Find out in our final edition of this series which considers a case study from the health sector. The case study examines wind farms and human health and highlights that correlation between two variables does not necessarily imply that one causes the other. https://evidentiary101.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/correlation-does-not-imply-causation-wind-farms-and-human-health/
Correlation does not imply causation – wind farms and human health
(Image courtesy of : The final edition of this series considers a case study from the health sector which highlights that correlation between two variables does not necessarily imply that one cause...
15/12/2014
What's the evidence that smaller class sizes are better for learning? given the substantial funds invested in decreasing class sizes over the years, the answer to this question is an important one. Click on the link below for a summary of a recent systematic review on the topic, which had some novel findings. ttp://bit.ly/1DydyZZ
Classroom sizes - what's the evidence that smaller class sizes are better for learning?
The case study for part three of the series "Evidence based practice – making a difference in policy and practice" is taken from the education sector. It demonstrates how evidence can be used to d...
09/12/2014
We investigate microfinance in Part 2 of our series of case studies which investigate the utility of evidence in policy and practice. A popular intervention to alleviate poverty in the international development sector, what is the evidence that microfinance actually works?
p://bit.ly/1sgoocE
Part 2: Evidence based practice – making a difference in policy and practice
In part two of this series, we’ll examine a case study from international development which highlights that popular interventions may not be the most effective. By undertaking evidence based review...
09/12/2014
Proponents of evidence based practice often laud the many benefits of the use of evidence, but what exactly are they? Can using evidence really make a difference to policy formation and practice outcomes? We investigated many case studies where evidence has been used in different fields.
The case study below examines the effectiveness of a popular criminal prevention policy called 'Scared Straight.' Despite being a key crime prevention program in numerous states of the USA and implemented in Australia, Germany and Norway - does it really deter at risk youth from a life of crime? The results are sure to surprise!
https://evidentiary101.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/evidence-based-practice-making-a-difference-in-policy-and-practice/
Evidence based practice – making a difference in policy and practice
Proponents of evidence based practice often laud the many benefits of the use of evidence, but what exactly are they? Can using evidence really make a difference to policy formation and practice ou...
18/11/2014
Does evidence influence practitioner management decisions in the environmental sector?A recent study undertaken by Walsh et al., 2014 looked at the influence of providing summarised scientific evidence on interventions to reduce bird predation to conservation managers around the world. Over 90% of the 112 participants indicated that they would change at least one intervention in light of the new evidence.Click on this link http://bit.ly/1vlohT0 for a summary of the study.
Does evidence influence practitioner management decisions in the environmental sector?
A key reason given to justify the time and funding invested into scientific research is that the findings of the research will benefit society. In the environmental sector, one of the main vehicles...