Decision-makers face complex obstacles when using research evidence to inform educational practice. For one, it is difficult to discern the relevance of even highly credible evidence. Secondly, they may not use credible evidence relevant to their jurisdiction if they perceive insufficient support for evidence-based policymaking. This project explores the potential for community forecasting—whereby members of a relevant jurisdiction are invited to work together to review research evidence to predict outcomes of interest to decision-makers—as a strategy for addressing these two obstacles and improving research use by school district administrators. Chu will investigate whether community forecasters can collectively identify district-specific treatment effects of evidence-based interventions, if participating in community forecasting increases support for research use, and if receiving community forecasts improves decision-makers’ interest in research use. Chu will gain expertise in the assessment of heterogenous treatment effects in educational contexts through mentorship from Jennie Brand, Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Anna Dreber, Professor of Economics at the Stockholm School of Economics, will provide mentorship in designing forecast studies.
Does participating in forecasting improve community members’ support for policymakers’ evidence use? Can community forecasting improve school district administrators’ support for evidence use in their decision-making?
