| | | --- | | Part of [a series](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Evidence-based_practices "Category:Evidence-based practices") on | | [Evidence-based practices](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_practice) | | * [Assessment](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_assessment "Evidence-based assessment") * [Design](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_design "Evidence-based design") * [Management](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_management "Evidence-based management") * [Research](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metascience "Metascience") * [Scheduling](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_scheduling "Evidence-based scheduling") --- * [Dentistry](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_dentistry "Evidence-based dentistry") * [Medical ethics](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_medical_ethics "Evidence-based medical ethics") * [Medicine](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_medicine "Evidence-based medicine") * [Nursing](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_nursing "Evidence-based nursing") * [Pharmacy](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_pharmacy_in_developing_countries "Evidence-based pharmacy in developing countries") * [Toxicology](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_toxicology "Evidence-based toxicology") --- * [Conservation](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_conservation "Evidence-based conservation") * [Education](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_education "Evidence-based education") * [Legislation](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_legislation "Evidence-based legislation") * [Library and information practice](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_library_and_information_practice "Evidence-based library and information practice") * [Policy](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_policy "Evidence-based policy") * [Policing](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_policing "Evidence-based policing") * [Prosecution](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_prosecution "Evidence-based prosecution") | | * [v](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Evidence-based_practices "Template:Evidence-based practices") * [t](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Evidence-based_practices "Template talk:Evidence-based practices") * [e](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Evidence-based_practices "Special:EditPage/Template:Evidence-based practices") | **Evidence-based practice** (**EBP**) is the idea that occupational practices ought to be based on [scientific evidence](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_evidence "Scientific evidence"). The movement towards evidence-based practices attempts to encourage and, in some instances, require professionals and other decision-makers to pay more attention to evidence to inform their decision-making. The goal of evidence-based practice is to eliminate unsound or outdated practices in favor of more-effective ones by shifting the basis for decision making from tradition, intuition, and unsystematic experience to firmly grounded scientific research.[[1]](#cite_note-1) The proposal has been controversial, with some arguing that results may not specialize to individuals as well as traditional practices.[[2]](#cite_note-2) Evidence-based practices have been gaining ground since the introduction of [evidence-based medicine](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_medicine "Evidence-based medicine") and have spread to the [allied health professions](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_health_professions "Allied health professions"), [education](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_education "Evidence-based education"), [management](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_management "Evidence-based management"), [law](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_legislation "Evidence-based legislation"), [public policy](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_policy "Evidence-based policy"), [architecture](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture "Architecture"), and other fields.[[3]](#cite_note-3) In light of studies showing problems in scientific research (such as the [replication crisis](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replication_crisis "Replication crisis")), there is also a movement to apply evidence-based practices in scientific research itself. Research into the evidence-based practice of science is called [metascience](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metascience "Metascience"). An individual or organisation is justified in claiming that a specific practice is evidence-based if, and only if, three conditions are met. First, the individual or organisation possesses comparative evidence about the effects of the specific practice in comparison to the effects of at least one alternative practice. Second, the specific practice is supported by this evidence according to at least one of the individual's or organisation's preferences in the given practice area. Third, the individual or organisation can provide a sound account for this support by explaining the evidence and preferences that lay the foundation for the claim.[[4]](#cite_note-4) History ------- [[edit](/w/index.php?title=Evidence-based_practice&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: History")] For most of history, professions have based their practices on expertise derived from experience passed down in the form of [tradition](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tradition "Tradition"). Many of these practices have not been justified by evidence, which has sometimes enabled [quackery](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quackery "Quackery") and poor performance.[[5]](#cite_note-5) Even when overt quackery is not present, the quality and efficiency of tradition-based practices may not be optimal. As the [scientific method](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method "Scientific method") has become increasingly recognized as a sound means to evaluate practices, evidence-based practices have become increasingly adopted.

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  "text": "|  |\n| --- |\n| Part of [a series](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Evidence-based_practices \"Category:Evidence-based practices\") on |\n| [Evidence-based practices](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_practice) |\n| * [Assessment](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_assessment \"Evidence-based assessment\") * [Design](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_design \"Evidence-based design\") * [Management](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_management \"Evidence-based management\") * [Research](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metascience \"Metascience\") * [Scheduling](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_scheduling \"Evidence-based scheduling\")  ---  * [Dentistry](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_dentistry \"Evidence-based dentistry\") * [Medical ethics](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_medical_ethics \"Evidence-based medical ethics\") * [Medicine](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_medicine \"Evidence-based medicine\") * [Nursing](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_nursing \"Evidence-based nursing\") * [Pharmacy](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_pharmacy_in_developing_countries \"Evidence-based pharmacy in developing countries\") * [Toxicology](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_toxicology \"Evidence-based toxicology\")  ---  * [Conservation](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_conservation \"Evidence-based conservation\") * [Education](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_education \"Evidence-based education\") * [Legislation](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_legislation \"Evidence-based legislation\") * [Library and information practice](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_library_and_information_practice \"Evidence-based library and information practice\") * [Policy](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_policy \"Evidence-based policy\") * [Policing](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_policing \"Evidence-based policing\") * [Prosecution](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_prosecution \"Evidence-based prosecution\") |\n| * [v](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Evidence-based_practices \"Template:Evidence-based practices\") * [t](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Evidence-based_practices \"Template talk:Evidence-based practices\") * [e](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Evidence-based_practices \"Special:EditPage/Template:Evidence-based practices\") |\n\n**Evidence-based practice** (**EBP**) is the idea that occupational practices ought to be based on [scientific evidence](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_evidence \"Scientific evidence\"). The movement towards evidence-based practices attempts to encourage and, in some instances, require professionals and other decision-makers to pay more attention to evidence to inform their decision-making. The goal of evidence-based practice is to eliminate unsound or outdated practices in favor of more-effective ones by shifting the basis for decision making from tradition, intuition, and unsystematic experience to firmly grounded scientific research.[[1]](#cite_note-1) The proposal has been controversial, with some arguing that results may not specialize to individuals as well as traditional practices.[[2]](#cite_note-2)\n\nEvidence-based practices have been gaining ground since the introduction of [evidence-based medicine](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_medicine \"Evidence-based medicine\") and have spread to the [allied health professions](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_health_professions \"Allied health professions\"), [education](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_education \"Evidence-based education\"), [management](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_management \"Evidence-based management\"), [law](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_legislation \"Evidence-based legislation\"), [public policy](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence-based_policy \"Evidence-based policy\"), [architecture](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture \"Architecture\"), and other fields.[[3]](#cite_note-3) In light of studies showing problems in scientific research (such as the [replication crisis](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replication_crisis \"Replication crisis\")), there is also a movement to apply evidence-based practices in scientific research itself. Research into the evidence-based practice of science is called [metascience](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metascience \"Metascience\").\n\nAn individual or organisation is justified in claiming that a specific practice is evidence-based if, and only if, three conditions are met. First, the individual or organisation possesses comparative evidence about the effects of the specific practice in comparison to the effects of at least one alternative practice. Second, the specific practice is supported by this evidence according to at least one of the individual's or organisation's preferences in the given practice area. Third, the individual or organisation can provide a sound account for this support by explaining the evidence and preferences that lay the foundation for the claim.[[4]](#cite_note-4)\n\nHistory\n-------\n\n[[edit](/w/index.php?title=Evidence-based_practice&action=edit&section=1 \"Edit section: History\")]\n\nFor most of history, professions have based their practices on expertise derived from experience passed down in the form of [tradition](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tradition \"Tradition\"). Many of these practices have not been justified by evidence, which has sometimes enabled [quackery](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quackery \"Quackery\") and poor performance.[[5]](#cite_note-5) Even when overt quackery is not present, the quality and efficiency of tradition-based practices may not be optimal. As the [scientific method](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method \"Scientific method\") has become increasingly recognized as a sound means to evaluate practices, evidence-based practices have become increasingly adopted.",
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}