The Catalyst Podcast

The Science of Making Informed Decisions: with Research Scientist Gracelyn Cruden

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Dr. Gracelyn Cruden is a Research Scientist at Chestnut Health Systems’ Lighthouse Institute-Oregon Group. Her research leverages systems science, decision science, and implementation science to develop tools, processes, and partnerships to implement evidence-informed programs and policies. We discussed: 

  • What is “decision science”? How is it applied, and how does it help get groups to a consensus?   
  • The precise definition of evidence.  
  • Why decision-making needs to go beyond "the ‘best available data” and integrate expertise, judgement, values, and preferences. 
  • The need to balance quantitative with qualitative data in selecting the right combination of methods/approaches/treatments.   
  • The Data2Action Oregon program - another great example of their work combining science and lived experience, and coordinating multiple “stakeholders” to facilitate effective outreach to improve lives and communities. 

    • Gracelyn provides a fascinating glimpse into how her work integrates all these elements -  decision and implementation science - to deliver real-world solutions whose impact is more than the sum of their parts.    



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