What Works Clearinghouse Standards of RDD

Version 1.0

In June 2010 the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) expanded its definition of  “gold standard” to include regression-discontinuity research designs. This comes within days of WWC adding Single-Subject Design to the US Department of Education’s list of acceptable methods for establishing the efficacy of educational practices.

Regression discontinuity (RD) designs are increasingly used as an effective method to obtain unbiased estimates of the effects of education-related interventions. The method is used as an alternative random assignment to form comparison groups that uses a cutoff point to assign the intervention to study units (for example, school districts, schools, or students). The report provides criteria under which these designs Meet WWC Evidence Standards.

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