ERIC Number: ED674110
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Aug
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-4405
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: 0000-00-00
A Practical Guide to Causal Moderation Analysis for Investigating the Role of Context, Identity, and Culture in Intervention Research
Nianbo Dong1; Keith Herman2; Benjamin Kelcey3; Sirui Ren1; Wendy Reinke2; Jessaca Spybrook4
Grantee Submission, Journal of School Psychology v111 Article 101473 2025
Contextual, identity, and cultural factors are not only associated with student outcomes but can also serve to moderate the effects of interventions. However, the conventional analysis of moderation commonly used in school psychology is subject to the selection bias potentially introducing bias into estimated moderator effects. This article provides a tutorial on the application of a recently developed framework for causal moderation effects within the context of investigating contextual, identity, and cultural effects in intervention research. Using an example that focuses on the effectiveness of a teacher classroom management program in improving students' social and behavioral outcomes, we demonstrate the application of the (stabilized) Inverse Probability Treatment Weighting method to investigate heterogeneous treatment effects. The analysis aims to scrutinize not only the Average Moderated Treatment Effect (AMTE) across the whole sample but also the Average Moderated Treatment Effects on Targeted Subgroups (AMTS). Finally, we discuss our findings and conclude with suggestions for the application of causal moderation analysis.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF); Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1913563; R305D190013; R305A100342
Department of Education Funded: Yes