Randomized Controlled Trials: IES Resources Available

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) provides educational researchers with a significant source of information to assist with randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Several IES centers publish helpful reports and guides including the following:

The National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEERA) provides a report to assist with the statistical theory underlying RCT-YES software. The RCT-YES software package estimates impacts of RCTs for a wide range of designs used in social policy research. See the NCEERA website to view or download the report: Statistical Theory for the RCT-YES Software: Design-Based Causal Inference for RCTs.

NCEERA also offers educational practitioners user-friendly tools to identify and implement practices supported by rigorous evidence. See the NCEERA website to view or download the guide: Identifying and Implementing Educational Practices Supported By Rigorous Evidence: A User Friendly Guide.

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) provides a search tool allowing users the ability to search for ongoing and completed education-related studies. See the WWC Registries website to use the search tool: Registry of Randomized Controlled Trials.

The National Center for Education Research (NCER) provides a guide for the design and analysis of partially nested RCTs. See the NCER website to view or download the guide: Partially Nested Randomized Controlled Trials in Education Research: A Guide to Design and Analysis.