Resource Library

This framework outlines the roles of various types of research and evaluation in generating information and answering empirical questions related to the human services provided by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Within the framework, you will find descriptions of each type of research and evaluation, including the purpose, the policy and/or practical significance justifications, the empirical and theoretical justifications, and the expectations for study design and expected outcomes.

Social service program stakeholders need timely evidence to inform ongoing program decisions. Rapid learning methods, defined here as a set of approaches designed to quickly and/or iteratively test program improvements and evaluate program implementation or impact, can help inform such decisions. However, stakeholders may be unsure which rapid learning methods are most appropriate for a program’s specific challenges and how to best apply the methods. Additionally, they may be unsure how to cultivate a culture of continuous, iterative learning.

For nearly 100 years, the null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) framework has been used to determine which findings are meaningful (Fisher 1925; Neyman and Pearson 1933). Under this framework, findings deemed meaningful are called “statistically significant.”  But the meaning of statistical significance is often...

This manual is designed to provide you with guidelines for planning and implementing a program evaluation. Each of the chapters addresses specific steps in the evaluation process and provides guidance on how to tailor an evaluation...

“Open science” represents a broad movement to make all phases of research—from design to dissemination—more transparent and accessible. The scientific community and Federal agencies that support research have a growing interest in open science methods in response to highly publicized news stories and journal articles that cast doubt on research credibility...

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The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation’s (OPRE’s) PREP Local Evaluation Support and Dissemination (PLESD) team describes how to engage Indigenous populations in evaluation using Indigenous methodolo

Fact Sheet — The Review Process: Navigating Timeline Challenges, Handbook of Standards and Procdures, Version 2.0

This report describes the methodology for the TRLECE project’s three surveys regarding child care and early education (CCEE) licensing (i.e., surveys of CCEE licensing administrators, front-line licensing staff, and CCEE providers).

This brief focuses on information from the SCOPE 2019 surveys with coaches, center teachers, and FCC providers. We describe information from the coaches, teachers, and FCC providers related to the coaches’ caseloads and the dosage of the coaching.