Great point about the appropriateness of the evidence for the question – I think this is something which often seems to be a secondary thought rather than the primary emphasis, and it\’s good to have a reminder that the focus should be on the question trying to be answered rather than the evidence already available or easy to collect.

And yes, although “evidence” started with a narrow conception, especially around quantitative randomised controlled trials it includes other types of research data. It also includes local evaluation data, not necessarily research. The key thiong aboiut the definition of evidence is not that anything can be evidence but rather that (i) the evidence chosen is appropriate to the question and (ii) that the evidence used is the best available for that particular question.

Keep blogging!