Evidence-based practice: plain text
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From: Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation
- Published on: 1 April 2025
- Last updated on: 14 May 2025
- Evidence-based practice
- Analysis and problem solving
- Data and analytics
- Research
- Stakeholder insight
- Measuring impact
Using evidence and data to create insight, problem solve, develop ideas and measure impact
Evidence-based practice
Level 1: At this level you’ll understand:
What evidence-based practice is, the different steps and types of evidence used and the reliability of different sources
Level 2: At this level you’ll understand:
The four types of evidence used in decision-making, and how to identify and acquire sources of evidence
Level 3: At this level you’ll understand:
How to appraise the quality and relevance of evidence available, by identifying sources of bias and using evidence-based questioning models
Level 4: At this level you’ll understand:
How to build organisation capability and systems to enable evidence-based practice
Analysis and problem solving
Level 1: At this level you’ll understand:
Analysis and problem solving tools (e.g. SWOT, PESTLE, 5 Whys) and how to apply them
Level 2: At this level you’ll understand:
How to select and apply analysis and problem solving tools for a specific situation
Level 3: At this level you’ll understand:
How to use analysis and problem solving techniques to translate issues into answerable questions
Level 4: At this level you’ll understand:
How to develop analysis and problem solving capability
Data and analytics
Level 1: At this level you’ll understand:
What data is, why it's important and how to access HR data and reports e.g. NSSO
Level 2: At this level you’ll understand:
How data and analytics can be used and applied appropriately to resolve people issues
Level 3: At this level you’ll understand:
How to use data and analytics (e.g. people, financial, business) to provide insight, answer questions and make decisions
Level 4: At this level you’ll understand:
How to use business and people analytics and insights ethically to influence and shape strategy
Research
Level 1: At this level you’ll understand:
How to access research via websites (such as the CIPD website), and be aware of its reliability
Level 2: At this level you’ll understand:
How to source, access and apply a range of published research relating to your area of work and quality check its reliability
Level 3: At this level you’ll understand:
How to use relevant research (published or commissioned) to inform your approach
Level 4: At this level you’ll understand:
Emerging research and findings that have the potential to add value to the organisation and how to shape and contribute to research
Stakeholder insight
Level 1: At this level you’ll understand:
The range of stakeholders that people professionals work with e.g. internal, managers, external to Civil Service
Level 2: At this level you’ll understand:
Stakeholder analysis and mapping and ways to gather stakeholder feedback (e.g. pulse checks and surveys)
Level 3: At this level you’ll understand:
How to explore stakeholder needs and concerns using a range of methods (e.g. focus groups)
Level 4: At this level you’ll understand:
How to reflect and balance different stakeholders' perspectives and values when developing strategy
Measuring impact
Level 1: At this level you’ll understand:
The different measures used in your organisation and how they apply to your work
Level 2: At this level you’ll understand:
Measures and metrics that can be used to track the achievement of outcomes and the impact of your work on stakeholders
Level 3: At this level you’ll understand:
How to define outcomes for people practices and measure their impact and value to stakeholders and the organisation
Level 4: At this level you’ll understand:
How to define outcomes for people strategies and measure their short and long-term impact and value to stakeholders and the organisation