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STatistics for Evidence-Based Policy and Practice

We develop and assess methods for generating, synthesizing, and translating evidence to improve policy and practice.

Elizabeth Tipton Elected President of SREE

Elizabeth Tipton has been elected President of the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness. Professor Tipton will be President-Elect in 2024, then President in 2025.

Professor Tipton also be the Chair of the Social Statistics Section of the ASA in 2025.

The STEPP Center was founded in 2019 to facilitate collaboration between statisticians, researchers, policymakers and practitioners using evidence to guide decisions, with a focus on education and the applied social sciences.

The STatistics for Evidence-Based Policy and Practice (STEPP) is based at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University and evolved from the IPR’s Q-Center. This expansion was made possible by the 2018 Yidan Prize for Education Research awarded to Larry Hedges.

A Bigger Vision

We believe in a scientific approach to transform the social world and a practice-driven approach to advance science. Our goal is to improve lives through methodological innovation in research.

Operating Principles

Research Areas

Statistical methods propel the quality of results provided in evaluations, as well as the questions posed and the relevance of science to practice. Our center seeks to serve the practitioner and policymaker communities through the development and promotion of state of the art methods for researchers.

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Generating Evidence

Generating strong evidence regarding innovations and practices through randomized trials and other strong research designs.

Does a program or intervention result in improved outcomes?

Visit the Generating Research Area
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Synthesizing Evidence

Synthesizing and interpreting the results of multiple studies.

How do we make sense of competing results from multiple sources about an intervention of policy?

Visit the Synthesizing Research Area
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Translating Evidence

Translating findings into meaningful and useful mechanisms to inform the evolution of policy and practice.

What is the best approach to convey evidence to a diverse audience of consumers?

Visit the Translating Research Area

Education & Training

We provide tutorial papers, online tools, seminars and short courses that train students and practitioners, and professional development institutes for established researchers.

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Resources

We provide tutorial papers, online tools, seminars and short courses that train students and practitioners, and professional development institutes for established researchers.

View All Resources

Events & News

Check out upcoming events at the Institute for Policy Research (IPR) and stay up to date with the STEPP Center's news and announcements.

IPR Events

Oct
14
2024

IPR Colloq.: E. Adam (IPR/SESP) - Promoting Ethnic-Racial Identity Exploration in School-Based Settings: Opportunities, Challenges and Initial Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

12:00 PM Chambers Hall, 600 Foster St
"Promoting Ethnic-Racial Identity Exploration in School-Based Settings:  Opportunities, Challenges and Initial Results f...
Oct
21
2024

Buffett Faculty Lunch: Community-Engaged Research in a Global Context

12:00 PM 720 University Place, 720 University Place
The Buffett Institute for Global Affairs hosts thematic lunches for Northwestern faculty members. Please join us on Mond...
Oct
28
2024

IPR Colloq.: S. Young (IPR/Anthro.) - "Democratizing Water Security for All"

12:00 PM Chambers Hall, 600 Foster St
"Democratizing Water Security for All: Policy Lessons at the Intersection of Global Health and Synthetic Biology" by Ser...

STEPP Center News & Announcements

Beth Tipton Elected SREE President

February 22, 2024

Elizabeth Tipton has been elected President of the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness. Professor Tipton will be President-Elect in 2024, then President in 2025.

Hedges Receives International Education Award

November 3, 2023

Larry Hedgesreceived the José Vasconcelos World Award of Education at the University of Helsinki. You can watch the ceremony here , and a short video about Larry’s career and achievements here.