This pamphlet, prepared for the Institute of Education Sciences, describes the purpose of education program evaluation, defines random assignment and discusses its advantages over other approaches, and looks at other issues related to use of random assignment in scientifically based education...

Argues that we do not yet have a menu of program options for helping students at risk of dropping out and suggests a way to identify approaches that program developers can use while efforts to develop a stronger scientific basis for new programs continue.

A Research Report from the School Dropout Demonstration Assistance Program Evaluation.

A Research Report from the School Dropout Demonstration Assistance Program Evaluation.

Recommends that an upcoming study of the effectiveness of educational technology in improving academic achievement focus on four goals: (1) defining what is meant by "educational technology," (2) deciding how to measure effectiveness, (3) clarifying what kinds of students will be studied, and...

Explores whether propensity score methods produce unbiased estimates of program impacts, by comparing experimental and propensity score impacts of dropout prevention programs. Finds no consistent evidence that they do--even when the data available for matching are extensive. Suggests that...