You’re not alone: the story of the evidence movement

Send us a message with your thoughts or reactionsPeople working in evidence-based management can sometimes feel like they are swimming against the tide. But they are part of something much larger.In this episode we hear from science journalist Helen Pearson about her new book Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works.The conversation steps back from evidence-based management to look at the much wider evidence movement that has been unfolding across disciplines over the past few decades. From medicine and social policy to policing, conservation and business, researchers and practitioners have been grappling with the same question: how do we know what really works?Helen traces the origins of the modern evidence movement, beginning with the pioneers of evidence-based medicine in the late twentieth century, and explains how ideas such as randomized trials and systematic reviews spread across many other fields.The discussion explores:The origins of evidence-based medicine and the role of pioneers like Iain Chalmers and David SackettHow ideas from medicine influenced other domains including policy, policing and managementWhy early advocates of evidence often worked in isolation across different disciplinesWhy evidence-based management faces particular challenges in bridging research and practiceThe current “crisis of evidence” and the forces shaping trust in science todayWhy teaching evidence literacy and critical thinking may be one of the most powerful tools for the futureHelen also shares practical advice for anyone wanting to think more critically about claims and evidence in everyday life.For students and teachers of evidence-based management, the episode offers a reminder that they are part of a much broader international movement seeking to improve decisions through better use of evidence.Beyond Belief: How Evidence Shows What Really Works will be published in April 2026.Host: Karen PlumGuest: Helen Pearson, Senior Editor, Nature, Honorary Professor of Practice, UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies Click here for more details about Helen's book.Contact:Eric Barends, Managing Director of the Center for Evidence-Based Management