Search our database of 1,200+ summaries of randomized evaluations conducted by our affiliates in 99 countries. To browse key policy recommendations from a subset of these evaluations, visit the Policy Publications tab above.

Displaying 9-16 of 1267
A smiling mother holds a young baby close to her, looking at the child.

Randomized Evaluation of the Nurse Family Partnership in South Carolina

Farah Allouch
Samuel Ayers
Katherine Baicker
Mary Ann Bates
Alyna Chien
Rebecca A. Gourevitch
Michele R. Hacker
Michelle Woodford Martin
Margaret McConnell
Nicolas Perreault
Slawa Rokicki
Chloe Zera
Annetta Zhou
Researchers are evaluating the impact of an intensive nurse home visiting program for low-income mothers on pregnancy and birth outcomes, child health and development, and future life-courses for the family. The program had no effect on adverse birth outcomes or prenatal outcomes such as health care...
Young students do schoolwork in a classroom in Puerto Rico

Principal Training to Improve Student Achievement in Puerto Rico

Gustavo Bobonis
Marco Gonzalez-Navarro
Daniela Scur
Researchers are evaluating the impact of changes in school management practices on student outcomes over time by introducing a large-scale principal training program for school directors in Puerto Rico and testing different strategies to sustain improved management practices after the program.
A young man wearing a fit bit, black surgical mask, and white hoodie runs on the sidewalk with cars and buildings in the background.

Incentivizing Physical Activity to Improve Mental Health During Covid-19 Disruptions in the United States

Osea Giuntella
Kelly Hyde
Silvia Saccardo
Sally Sadoff
Researchers conducted a randomized intervention to measure the impact of financial incentives for reaching daily step goals on physical activity and depression risk during the Covid-19 pandemic, to better understand the association between physical activity and mental health. While program...
A parent taking their child to school.

Auditing Schools' Responsiveness to Students with Disabilities in Districts of Choice

Peter Bergman
Isaac McFarlin
Researchers sent emails to schools posing as parents of students with randomly-varied characteristics to assess if schools responded differently to different types of students. The researchers found that on average both charter and traditional public schools were less likely to respond to students...
A teacher calling on students raising their hands in a classroom.

Sending Text Messages to Parents to Improve Student Achievement in Middle and High Schools in the United States

Peter Bergman
Eric W. Chan
A randomized evaluation of the text alert program showed that the intervention reduced course failures, increased class attendance and improved in-class exam scores. The effects are larger for students with below-average GPAs and students in high school, and positive effects persist into the second...
Students participate in a Big Word Club activity

Evaluating the Impact of a Tech-Based Early Childhood Vocabulary Program in the United States

Ariel Kalil
Susan Mayer
Philip Oreopoulos
Rohen Shah
Researchers evaluated the impact of a vocabulary improvement “edutainment” program for young children, Big Word Club, on children’s receptive vocabulary. Researchers found that the Big Word Club increased students’ knowledge and retention of words included in the program without detracting from...
A gloved hand holds a blue ORCA transit card in front of a bus stop where a bus is parked.

Can Transportation Subsidies Reduce Failures to Appear in Criminal Court?

Rebecca Brough
Matthew Freedman
Daniel E. Ho
David Phillips
Researchers partnered with local agencies in King County, Washington to evaluate the impact of providing transit subsidies on rates of FTA in court. While the study was disrupted due to Covid-19, the pilot results indicated that transit subsidies had little effect on reducing FTA.
Close up, business woman using mobile smart phone

The Effect of Text Message Reminders on Failure to Appear in Court in the Rural United States

Emily Owens
Carly Will Sloan
Researchers conducted a randomized evaluation to test the impact of text message reminders on rates of failure to appear in court (FTA) among people who are unhoused and housed in rural Shasta County, California. The reminders reduced FTA rates for the housed population, but did not impact FTA rates...