This paper is from Session 8F: Research methodologies in statistics education
which comes under Topic 8: Research in statistics education
(Tuesday 13th, 11:00-12:30)
Randomized controlled trials and PhD level training in educational research
Presenter
Co-author
- Erling Boe (University of Pennsylvania, United States)
Abstract
This invited paper reviews recent initiatives in teaching about randomized field trials at the graduate level in education research. Reports in Mosteller and Boruch (2002) are used as a benchmark. The initiatives have been driven heavily by recent governmental emphasis on “evidence based policy” in education, criminology, welfare and other sectors. This policy has been backed, in the US at least, by substantial investments in mounting randomized controlled trials to evaluate curriculum packages and programs in grades K-12, crime prevention programs, welfare, and other work. Accelerated growth in randomized trials has entailed cross discipline pre-doctoral and post-doctoral institutes and graduate education programs aimed at enhancing the quality in trial design, execution, and analysis of results. Specific illustrations of graduate education in this area of statistics are taken mainly from experience at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education and selected other institutions.
