Understanding the role of practical knowledge in evidence-based welfare reform—a three-stage model

Political, scientific-administrative, as well as practical knowledge, are important for evidence-based policies in the public service. However, empirically, these forms of knowledge have mainly been studied independently, highlighting the need to better understand their interaction in welfare policy. On this basis, the article focuses on understanding the role of practical knowledge in evidence-based welfare policies, using two case studies. Empirically, active employment and public school policy in Denmark are studied as examples of welfare policy during the period from 2010 to 2022, based on documents and interviews with key policy actors. Based on the case studies, a three-stage model of the role of practical knowledge in evidence-based welfare reform is developed. The model illustrates that the role of practical knowledge changes at different stages of evidence-based policy. Public professionals may both rely on practical knowledge when implementing policy in response to evidence-based management and use it when acting as policy actors to re-politicise evidence-based policies.