Causality, Public Policies, and Randomized Controlled Experiments: Is a Social Laboratory Possible?

Abstract

This paper aims to carry out a theoretical-epistemological analysis of one of the most relevant problems in modern social sciences: causality. We will also refer to the standardized study methodologies that have arose from this. Following Nancy Cartwright's approaches, we will evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based policies, specifically, randomized controlled trials, as one of the foundations for evidence-based public policies’ formulation. We will inquire about a possible lack of efficacy of randomized controlled trials, as a consequence of the methodological determinism that has accompanied their construction and development. We intend to reflect on the importance of non-quantifiable factors in social research, and finally, demystify the research approach that proposes causality as a gold principle of social phenomena.