In a clustered observational study, a treatment is assigned to groups and all units within the group are exposed to the treatment. We develop a new method for statistical adjustment in clustered observational studies using approximate balancing weights, a generalization of inverse propensity score weights that solve a convex optimization problem…

Randomized control trials are considered the pinnacle for causal inference. In many cases, however, randomization of participants in social work research studies is not feasible or ethical. This paper introduces the co-twin control design study as an alternative quasi-experimental design to provide evidence of causal mechanisms when randomization…

This study reviewed applied research literature testing the efficacy of using instructional strategies to develop college students' self-directed learning skills. Researchers conducted a systematic database review of recent empirical studies from 2011 through 2021 and synthesized findings from four recent literature reviews into for two types of…

Single-case design (SCD) is a quantitative experimental technique in which participants serve as their own control. The use of an effect size in SCD allows evaluation of outcomes as well as comparison of outcomes via meta-analyses. Characteristics of SCD research make the selection of an appropriate effect size complicated. Additionally, there are…

The visual analysis of data presented in time-series graphs are common in single-case design (SCD) research and applied practice in school psychology. A growing body of research suggests that visual analysts' ratings are often influenced by construct-irrelevant features including Y-axis truncation and compression of the number of data points per…

Recent interest in promoting replication efforts assumes that there is well-established methodological guidance for designing and implementing these studies. However, no such consensus exists in the methodology literature. This article addresses these challenges by describing design-based approaches for planning systematic replication studies. Our…

Linear panel models featuring unit and time fixed effects appear in many areas of empirical economics. An active literature studies the interpretation of the ordinary least squares estimator of the model, commonly called the two-way fixed effects (TWFE) estimator, in the presence of unmodeled coefficient heterogeneity. We illustrate some…

In 2020, the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) for single-case experimental design (SCED) studies released an updated version of their standards and procedures handbook (Version 4.1). Because of these updates, there is a need to understand the implications for the field in terms of quality rating of the design, and subsequent synthesis of evidence at…

The general expectation for many successful educational innovations is to "scale up" the project. Based on interviews with participating teachers, facilitators and administrators, this research shares findings from the "scaling up" stage of a federally funded mathematics project designed to help teachers reach a wide range of…

Single-case experimental designs (SCEDs) have been used with increasing frequency to identify evidence-based interventions in education. The purpose of this study was to explore how several procedural characteristics, including within-phase variability (i.e., measurement error), number of baseline observations, and number of intervention…

Although there are a growing number of implementation strategies to increase the adoption, fidelity, and sustainment of evidence-based practices (EBP), they are often complex and bulky, which can interfere with their widespread application. To address these challenges, the Helping Educational Leaders Mobilize Evidence (HELM) strategy was created…

What is the science of reading? The Reading League, in their document "Science of Reading: Defining Guide" (TRL, 2022), proposes that "The science of reading is a vast, interdisciplinary body of scientifically-based* research about reading and issues related to reading and writing." (p. 11.) The asterisk is carrying a lot of…

Currently the design standards for single case experimental designs (SCEDs) are based on validity considerations as prescribed by the What Works Clearinghouse. However, there is a need for design considerations such as power based on statistical analyses. We compute and derive power using computations for (AB)[superscript k] designs with multiple…

It is difficult for consumers to access the evidence base for prevention programs to determine which models or practices have the strongest empirical support for improving youth social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) outcomes within their specific service contexts. Researchers can address this evidence-to-practice gap through innovations in…

The field of education relies heavily on instructional coaches to build teacher capacity in the implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs). Although observation tools are commonly used to measure the fidelity of implementation by teachers, fewer tools are available to identify specific coaching behaviors used during in situ coaching…