ERIC Number: ED544801
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Apr
Pages: 28
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Recognizing and Conducting Opportunistic Experiments in Education: A Guide for Policymakers and Researchers. REL 2014-037
Resch, Alexandra; Berk, Jillian; Akers, Lauren
National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance
An opportunistic experiment is a type of randomized controlled trial that studies the effects of a planned intervention or policy change with minimal added disruption and cost. This guide defines opportunistic experiments and provides examples, discusses issues to consider when identifying potential opportunistic experiments, and outlines the critical steps to complete opportunistic experiments. It concludes with a discussion of the potentially low cost of conducting opportunistic experiments and the potentially high cost of not conducting them. Readers will also find a checklist of key questions to consider when conducting opportunistic experiments in the appendix.
Descriptors: Educational Experiments, Educational Research, Intervention, Educational Policy, Research Opportunities, Research Needs, Research Administration, Recruitment, Compliance (Psychology), Data Collection, Data Analysis, Cost Effectiveness, Feasibility Studies
National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance. Available from: ED Pubs. P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Tel: 877-433-7827; Web site: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/
Publication Type: Guides - Non-Classroom
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Policymakers; Researchers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (ED)
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
IES Publication: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/REL2014037/