Concept of “evidence” according to Japan's Children and Families Agency

TANAKA Sigeto

- Examining a 2024 research project to collect scientific knowledge for infant development

TANAKA Sigeto <http://tsigeto.info/25y>
(Graduate School of Arts and Letters, Tohoku University)

The 35th Conference of the Japan Society of Family Sociology (2025-09-06)

[Abstract] (on the Conference website)

[Slides PDF (500 kB)]

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URI: http://tsigeto.info/25y
Title: こども家庭庁の「エビデンス」理解: 「科学的知見の充実・普及に向けた調査研究」の研究 || Concept of “evidence” according to Japan's Children and Families Agency: Examining a 2024 research project to collect scientific knowledge for infant development
Presenter: 田中重人 || TANAKA Sigeto
Conference: 第35回日本家族社会学会大会 || The 35th Conference of the Japan Society of Family Sociology
Location: 金城学院大学 || Kinjo Gakuin University
Date: 2025-09-06
Session: 自由報告 (2)-5 制度・支援 || General Theme (2)-5 Family Policy and Support System
Language: Japanese

Short URL: http://tsigeto.info/25y

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[Abstract] (PDF version on the Conference website)

[Slides PDF (500 kB)]

Abstract

Scientific understanding is often uncertain. For example, medical research experiments often yield unstable results. In clinical settings, the applicability of those results varies among patients. Thus, determining the efficacy of new technologies takes time. In such an unstable, diverse, and rapidly changing field, securing reliable knowledge to make appropriate decisions is difficult.

In response to this uncertainty, evidence-based medicine (EBM) has been developed since the 1990s to utilize the best and most recent evidence for clinical decisions. In this context, “evidence” refers to that collected primarily from the literature and screened through critical reviews about validity, reliability, and relevance for the individual patient in question.

This understanding of “evidence” is not common in the field of policy-making, which widely employs the methodology of evidence-based policy-making. In this context, “evidence” often refers to original research findings produced from a governmental project, which serve as a ground to justify a particular policy.

However, some governmental projects follow EBM-like procedures to establish “evidence”: a literature survey of scientific papers, assessment of their methods, and synthesis of their findings. This presentation focuses on a recent project by the Japan Children and Families Agency. Following the 2023 Basic Vision for Child Development up to Early Childhood decided by the Cabinet, the agency commissioned a private institute to assemble scientific knowledge about child development during the fiscal year 2024, with advice from a committee of nine experts. The project focused on two themes: infants' attachment to their caretakers and the developmental effects of play and experience during infancy. It surveyed the literature to retrieve papers related to these two themes, evaluated their findings, and compiled two volumes of result reports.

I will examine the procedure and results of the project, focusing on the following: (1) correspondence between the policy objectives and the research questions; (2) coverage of the literature surveys; (3) distinction between causation and correlation; (4) critical appraisal of retrieved papers concerning sample selection, treatment of the subjects, measurement, statistical procedure, confounding factors, etc.; (5) evaluation of effect sizes; and (6) application of the findings to specific targets. Problems with the project's understanding of “evidence” will then be addressed based on the results.

Keywords: evidence-based policy making, children, attachment

References

[See Japanese version]

Communication

Questions/comments are welcome.