Evidence Matters
Evidence Matters is a collaborative learning series hosted by the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) at the University of Notre Dame and J-PAL North America at MIT, with expert guidance from public sector evidence leader Carrie S. Cihak. Originating in 2021 as a partnership between LEO and King County, Washington, the series brings together government, researcher, and community perspectives to showcase successful partnerships that promote rigorous learning to advance equitable, evidence-based economic mobility.
We do this by exploring the "in-between" spaces of building successful research partnerships that result in continuous learning and positive impacts.
Our webinars and events are guided by the following principles:
- We focus on research that is in the service of improving outcomes,
- We hold the expertise of practitioners, communities, and researchers in equal regard,
- We share and learn practical, real-world examples of what works to increase economic mobility,
- We emphasize continuous learning over singular quantitative results, and
- We underscore the belief that research methods must be matched to the learning questions and context. While Evidence Matters focuses on randomized evaluations, we hold space to discuss the necessary ‘building blocks’ of evidence creation and learning that occur before an evaluation is feasible, during a study, or after quantitative analysis is complete.
Advancing J-PAL’s Mission
We are thrilled to be a collaborator on Evidence Matters. The series provides a critical platform for advancing our mission of reducing poverty by ensuring policy is informed by scientific evidence.
In pursuit of our mission, we aim to equip changemakers with the knowledge, connections, and opportunities necessary to make evidence-informed policy decisions. We recognize that this work is rarely straightforward and cannot be done in silos. Evidence Matters unpacks these complexities and enables our staff and researchers to showcase actionable insights on successful partnerships and study results to inform policy and practice.
J-PAL North America is grateful to LEO and Carrie for bringing us on as a partner on this series.
Examples of Past Events
Webinar: From Line Items to Impact: Incorporating Evidence into Local Budgeting
This webinar explores how local government leaders are embedding research, data, and evidence into budgeting processes. Hear practical advice from local government leaders about how to get started and how to sustain momentum over time—building the internal capacity, cross-departmental partnerships, and political will needed to make evidence-informed budgeting a lasting part of how your government works.
Read the recap: Evidence Matters: Informing Public Spending
Webinar: Ten Lessons for Building Government and Research Partnerships That Matter
This webinar gives practical tips for government and non-profit workers seeking research partnerships. Hear a candid conversation with Louise Geraghty (J-PAL North America), Vincent Quan (J-PAL North America), Patrick Turner (Notre Dame), and Carrie S. Cihak (Beyond Measure) on how to create partnerships that move beyond the final report to inform real-world decisions.
Read the recap: Evidence Matters: Building effective government-researcher partnerships
Event: Evidence Matters Convening
On November 12, 2025, J-PAL North America, the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities, and King County came together in Seattle to host the Evidence Matters Convening, a gathering designed to bridge the worlds of academic research, social services, and government policymaking. The day featured an interactive Evidence Fair and deep-dive policy sessions tackling critical issues like the social safety net, transit, and evidence-informed budgeting, all grounded in the reality of local government constraints and incentives.
Read the recap: Evidence Matters Convening: Advancing policy through partnership with King County, WA and the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities
Webinar: Co-Designing for Equity: Antiracist Practice in Research and Evaluation for Greater Public Impact
A timely and grounded conversation about putting anti-racist principles into practice—in research, evaluation, and public service. Hosted by Carrie S. Cihak (Beyond Measure) and J-PAL Executive Director Laura Feeney, this webinar featured Crystal C. Hall (University of Washington), Anne McNair (King County’s Best Starts for Kids initiative), Matthew Freedman (UC Irvine), and Sunny Giron (The Community Café Collaborative) for a discussion on how antiracist behavioral science can shape better research questions, stronger partnerships, and smarter service delivery—especially with communities historically excluded from decision-making.
For a full list of past Evidence Matters events, visit the Archive page on LEO's website.
Contact
To stay informed about upcoming Evidence Matters webinars, please sign up for our listserv.
For any inquiries related to Evidence Matters, please contact Laina Sonterblum