Some misconceptions of evidence-based practice

This article is part of an ongoing series of articles on evidence-based knowledge management.

What comes to mind when evidence-based knowledge management is discussed? Do your thoughts align with any of these statements:

• Evidence means quantitative ‘scientific’ evidence

• Evidence-based practice means practitioners should not use their professional expertise or gut feel

• Evidence can prove things

• Evidence tells you the truth about things

• New exciting single ‘breakthrough’ studies provide the best evidence

• Collecting valid and relevant evidence gives you The Answer to The Problem

• Doing evidence-based practice means dong what the research evidence tells you works

• If you don’t have the evidence, you can’t do anything

• Experts (e.g., consultants and management school professors) know all about the evidence so you just need to ask them

• Evidence-based practice just means using proven techniques or best practices.

These statements are actually misconceptions of evidence-based practice compiled by Professor Rob Briner, Scientific Director of the Center for Evidence-Based Management (CEBMa). So if any of them struck a chord, check out RealKM Magazine’s list of guidance and resources to gain an accurate understanding of evidence-based practice.

Article source: Rob Briner on Twitter.

Header image source: Adapted from Evidence Based by Nick Youngson on Alpha Stock Images which is licenced by CC BY-SA 3.0.

Also published on Medium.