On November 16, 2017, the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) delivered a presentation on the Version 4.0 Procedures and Standards Handbooks, which were released October 30, 2017. The approaches researchers use to measure the impacts of interventions are constantly evolving with new advances in methodological research. The updates to WWC procedures and standards in Version 4.0 are designed to keep pace with those changes and provide additional clarity to readers of the Handbooks. The updates include new standards, updated procedures and standards, and clarifications to existing procedures and standards. The most notable changes address regression discontinuity designs, studies with cluster-level assignment, and approaches to include subjects with missing baseline or outcome data. The presentation described the WWC’s process for developing the updated Handbooks and explained the notable changes from the Version 3.0 Procedures and Standards Handbook.

Released: November 2017