RCTs, the What Works centre and children's social care

Forrester, Donald ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2293-5718 2025. RCTs, the What Works centre and children's social care. Sanders, Michael, Westlake, David and Hirneis, Vanessa, eds. Experimental Methods and Children's Social Care: The Contribution of Randomised Controlled Trials, Sociology, Social Policy and Education 2025, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 21-29. (10.4337/9781035327157.00010)

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Abstract

This chapter examines the establishment and influence of the What Works for Children's Social Care centre (WWCSC) on the use of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in children's social care (CSC). It discusses why some groups – particularly academics – misunderstand or oppose RCTs, and how advocates of experimental methods might address these concerns. The chapter highlights debates about the ethics of testing interventions that some consider a ‘right’, as well as the tension between policymakers’ demand for quick evidence and the lengthy, meticulous process of developing and evaluating interventions. It recognises that initial scepticism and resource constraints have made progress challenging, yet the WWCSC's work has demonstrated that well-conceived RCTs can yield clear insights, informing both policy and practice. Ultimately, this chapter argues that RCTs – balanced with other research methods and guided by principles of fairness and rights – hold promise for transforming CSC research and improving outcomes for children and families.

Item Type:	Book Section
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Publisher:	Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN:	9781035327140
Last Modified:	15 Dec 2025 15:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/183246

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