"The Donovan Royal Commission set new standards in evidence‐based policy making. The paper puts the Commission's research programme in its 1960s context of disorderly workplace labour relations. It reviews each of the studies, concluding that they were innovative and had a powerful influence over the Commission's recommendations. In retrospect, the scope of topics researched was too narrow to engage with major future challenges. That apart, the precedent of research based on case studies, surveys and historical analysis has continued to enhance employment‐related policy making."

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