We conducted a realist review of state-authorized dyslexia pilot projects to understand how they have been implemented and evaluated, and the extent to which they adhere to best practice recommendations. We found that states have piloted broadly similar policy programs minimally consisting of professional development, universal screening, and…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by challenges in social competence that persist in adulthood, yet few treatment options exist. A pilot randomized clinical trial (RCT) of a peer-mediated, theatre-based intervention with established efficacy in youth with ASD was examined in autistic adults. The final sample consisted of forty-seven…

This research brief describes key takeaways for researchers from a rigorous evaluation of Single Stop, a college basic needs intervention. The study team faced challenges with student take-up of Single Stop services such as application support, tax services, and case management in a randomized control trial of Single Stop that was conducted across…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper reporting an exploratory pilot study is to examine how participant engagement in design thinking varies when playing and fixing (playfixing) three partially complete games (broken games). Design/methodology/approach: The data for this study consist of transcripts of five playfixing sessions with a total of 16…

Social work education has responded to the heightened demand for graduates as competent behavioral health practitioners. However, the preparation of social work graduate students for transitioning into leadership roles in behavioral health settings is limited. To enhance graduate students' macrolevel competencies, specifically in behavioral…

Few studies have reported outcomes from the delivery of naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions (NDBI) in group-based community care. Further, while the importance of inclusion for autistic individuals is well established, there is little research on the feasibility of community-based inclusion programs for preschool-aged autistic…

Medical education may lack experiential training on authentic community engagement (CE). Employing a human-centered design approach with medical faculty and students to identify goals, opportunities, needs, and barriers to implementing CE research, we developed an Experiential Community Engagement Learning Series (EXCELS) pilot program. EXCELS…

Executive Functions are essential for good school performance as well as for the proper development of individuals' socio-affective, vocational, academic, and planning skills. Investigations with digital games aimed at stimulating inhibitory control of the executive functions in the school environment, especially with typically developing children…

Racially minoritized parents often experience significant systemic barriers when accessing and navigating transition planning for their young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Despite the benefits of transition-focused parent interventions, only a few studies have developed or adapted these interventions for racially…

The purpose of the Faculty, Academic Careers and Environments (FACE) project is to understand who faculty are, what their academic careers look like, and how the environments in which they work shape their ability to thrive as instructors, researchers and public scholars in the community. This report provides an overview of a new conceptual model…

This report describes the two-year pilot study of how best to create a national study of faculty working at non-profit colleges and universities of all types across the country, given the social media and survey research environment of the 2020s. Since 2004, two major developments have significantly changed the landscape for academic employment:…

In this study we employed regression analysis and between-group matched pair design to analyze whether participation in a competency-based education pilot was associated with improved high school completion and postsecondary entry. Data were obtained for high schools participating in a CBE pilot program in Illinois. Results of the matched pair…

In accordance with the Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR) Act, the Illinois State Board of Education conducted an evaluation of the Competency-Based Education Pilot Program during the 2021-22 school year using external evaluators who analyzed data collected from school districts participating in the program. This report includes a summary…

Simulated learning experiences (SLEs) are becoming increasingly popular in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) training programs. This pilot study examines the relative effectiveness of delivering a SLE via standard computer or using virtual reality headsets for a more immersive learning experience. Seventy undergraduate CSD students were…

High-quality decodable books enhance literacy by providing children with focused practice opportunities to break down sounds they have learned and apply their decoding skills. Just Right Reader (JRR) hired LXD Research to measure its impact during a pilot study in the Spring of 2024 to determine the effect of their decodable books on literacy…