Nonexperimental methods, such as regression modeling or statistical matching, produce unbiased estimates if the underlying assumptions hold, but these assumptions are usually not testable. Most studies testing nonexperimental designs find that they fail to produce unbiased estimates, but these...

Using data from patients surveyed after primary care provider visits, this working paper found patients had favorable perceptions of electronic health records (EHRs). Patients believed that EHRs improved the quality of care, and most were not concerned with confidentiality of records. Adopters'...

This working paper examines behavioral responses to an incentive program that offers high-performing teachers in 10 school districts across the country $20,000 to transfer into the district's hardest-to-staff schools. Specifically, the paper looks at high-performing teachers' willingness to...

This working paper reviews impacts of the Electronic Health Records Demonstration implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, finding that moderate incentive payments did not lead to universal electronic health record (EHR) adoption and use in a two-year time frame. However, the...

The study examined public attitudes toward and understanding of comparative effective research (CER). Six focus groups were conducted with consumers in three major cities to examine the extent of familiarity and understanding of CER.

Surveys collecting behavioral frequency information request either numerically or vaguely quantified frequency reports. Using data from an experiment embedded in the 2006 National Survey of Student Engagement, this working paper finds that the structure of measurement models based on vaguely and...

This working paper discusses a new analysis, using data from Florida and Chicago, suggesting that charter high schools are not only increasing postsecondary educational attainment but may also boost students' long-run earnings.

This working paper investigates how empirical Bayes shrinkage, an approach commonly used in implementing teacher accountability systems, affects the value-added estimates of teachers of students with hard-to-predict achievement levels, such as students who have low prior achievement and receive...

The Quality of Caregiver-Child Interactions for Infants and Toddlers (Q-CCIIT) observation tool was developed to measure the quality of child care settings serving infants and toddlers, including center-based care and family child care homes, single-age classrooms, and mixed-age settings. Funded...