A new review of Fighting for Reliable Evidence by Judith Gueron and Howard Rolston praises the book’s groundbreaking contributions to public policy. In his assessment for the Public Administration Review, Lawrence M. Mead of New York University states, “This remarkable book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in evaluation on national social policy.”

How do we know whether social programs are doing what they’re designed to do? In Fighting for Reliable Evidence, Gueron and Rolston demonstrate the ways in which random assignment experiments can be used to evaluate complex social problems. Random assignment—or the process of sorting people at random into either a treatment group that participates in a particular program or a control group that does not, then comparing the results to determine the effects of the program on the treatment group—has long been a mainstay of medical clinical trials. Over the last several decades, the practice has gained prominence within the social sciences as a way of measuring the successes of programs ranging from microfinance and welfare reform to housing vouchers and teaching methods. The Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC), which Gueron co-founded, was the firm that led the shift toward random assignment.

As Mead points out in his review, Fighting for Reliable Evidence also offers valuable insights on public management. Noting that Gueron built the MDRC around the establishment of random assignment, he states, “She also dared to have the MDRC set its own research agenda, focused on welfare reform, rather than pursue every opportunity for funding.” Mead also commends Rolston’s political savvy, which allowed him to navigate the White House and Congress and build support with national and local politicians for the project.

“Fighting for Reliable Evidence is a dazzling achievement,” Mead concludes. “Having succeeded in statecraft, Gueron and Rolston now succeed as authors.”

Click here to read more about Fighting for Reliable Evidence or purchase a copy of the book.