What evidence best supports a claim that a policy was effective?

• A. Anecdotal stories
• B. Opinion polls only
• C. Data showing improvements or outcomes directly linked to the policy
• D. The policy's popularity in media

Answer: (C)

The best evidence that a policy was effective is data showing measurable improvements or outcomes that can be directly linked to the policy's implementation. This means looking at actual results—before-and-after measurements, changes over time, or comparisons to groups not affected by the policy—that demonstrate the policy caused those changes, ideally with methods that help rule out other explanations.

Anecdotal stories show individual experiences but don’t prove that the policy caused those changes or that they apply broadly. Opinion polls reveal what people think or feel, not whether real outcomes improved. Media popularity reflects how much attention a policy gets, not whether it worked.