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IES Conferences, Workshop/Training & Technical Assistance
Summer Research Training Institute: Two-Week Quasi-Experimental Design and Analysis Workshop

Description:

Objective: The National Center for Education Research (NCER) in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education announces new Summer Research Training Institute on Quasi-Experimental Designs to increase the national capacity of researchers to develop and conduct rigorous evaluations of the impact of education interventions.

Dates: August 1 - August 12, 2016

Location: Northwestern University; Evanston, IL The workshop will be held at the Hilton Orrington Hotel in Evanston, just north of Chicago. Institute participants also will be housed at the Hilton Orrington Hotel, which is located within walking distance of Northwestern University.

Project Website: http://www.ipr.northwestern.edu/workshops/annual-summer-workshops/quasi-experimental-design-and-analysis/

Course content: The course sessions will provide intensive training in planning quasi-experimental designs, in implementing them, and in analyzing data from them. More emphasis will be placed on analysis than in prior rounds of this workshop.

Workshop Goals and Overview:

  • To provide researchers with state-of-the-art tools for designing, implementing, and analyzing their own quasi-experiments,
  • To help researchers plan higher quality (and more internally valid) quasi-experiments, and
  • To provide general education and background knowledge on experiments and quasi-experiments for researchers interested in methodology.
  • The course will enable participants to better evaluate and conduct quasi-experiments and to fit the design needed to the targeted conditions of an application.

For more information about the course content, please view the sample syllabus

Training Institute Sponsor: Northwestern University's Institute for Policy Research, with a grant from the Institute of Education Sciences, is providing support for this Summer Training Institute.

Eligibility Requirements and Selection Criteria for Training Institute Fellows:

  1. The workshop is for faculty from all disciplines who have an interest in causal research in education settings; for advanced graduate students working with quasi-experimental data; and for employees of federal, state, and local government and contract research firms dealing with the evaluation of educational interventions.
  2. Past attendees of the IES QE workshop are eligible to attend.
  3. Attendees must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
  4. Preference will be given to individuals who have demonstrated their ability to conduct independent research, are currently employed in a setting in which conducting research relevant to education is part of their regular responsibilities, and can demonstrate that they have a need for the knowledge and skills addressed in the workshop. Each application will be evaluated on its own merits. If more than 30 meritorious applications are received, other criteria such as disciplinary, geographical, and institutional diversity will be taken into account.
  5. Applicants must have a solid general understanding of statistical methods and be experienced in using personal computers and statistical computer packages. Knowledge of specific quasi-experimental analysis practices is not required. The Q-E Training Institute will include hands-on data-analysis sessions. Participants are expected to know how to perform basic R or Stata procedures, including running statistical analyses, e.g., frequency distributions, cross-tabulations, means, and regression analyses. While we anticipate that most attendees will be familiar with one of these programs, we also would be willing to consider those candidates who do not know either program, yet are adept at learning computer languages and are confident of their skills.

Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

If selected for participation in the Workshop on Quasi-Experimental Design and Analysis, individuals who require accommodations for disabilities should contact Rebecca Morris, program coordinator.

Costs and Stipends: Northwestern University will pay the cost for attendees' tuition and lodging during the week. Attendees will be responsible for their travel and food costs. In a few cases, it will be possible to cover travel costs for those attendees who demonstrate a special need.

Application Procedures: If you are interested in attending the Summer Training Institute, please use the link below to submit the following materials:

  1. A copy of your curriculum vitae.
  2. A 1 to 2 page statement of interest.
  3. A completed application form

Submit Completed Applications by email:
Ms. Rebecca Morris
Institute for Policy Research
Northwestern University
2040 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208-4100
rebecca.morris@northwestern.edu

All applications must be received no later than Wednesday, April 20, 2016.

Applications will be reviewed and applicants will be notified no later than Monday, May 2, 2016 via e-mail.

Selected applicants will receive the Summer Training Institute course schedule and information about travel and lodging.

Contact Information:
Quasi-Experimental Design Training Institute inquiries:
Ms. Rebecca Morris
Institute for Policy Research
Northwestern University
2040 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208-4100
rebecca.morris@northwestern.edu

Type: Workshop/Training & Technical Assistance
Location: Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
Dates: August 1-12, 2016
Organization: National Center for Education Research
Contacts:   Contact Morris, Rebecca from Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University
  Contact Gagné, Phill from National Center for Education Research at (202) 245-7139