Skip to main content

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.

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.

genius icon

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
globe icon

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
speech bubble icon

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.

instructor pointing to a laptop screen. There is a student sitting to his right.

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

Jan
9
2025

A Conversation with Kirabo Jackson: Insights from His Time on President Biden's Council of Economic Advisers

5:00 PM Kellogg Global Hub, 2211 Campus Drive
In Conversation with Andrew V. Papachristos Kirabo Jackson is the Abraham Harris Professor of Human Development and Soci...
Jan
13
2025

IPR Colloq.: B. O'Sullivan (Comp. Sci.) - TBD

12:00 PM Chambers Hall, 600 Foster St
Title: TBD By Barry O'Sullivan, a visiting professor at Northwestern's Computer Science Department in the McCormick Scho...
Jan
27
2025

IPR Colloq.: M. Kraus (IPR/Psych.) - The Narrative of Racial Progress

12:00 PM Chambers Hall, 600 Foster St
"The Narrative of Racial Progress" By Michael Kraus, Professor of Psychology and Morton O. Schapiro IPR Faculty Fellow. ...

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.