Research Training Institute on Cluster-Randomized Trials
Northwestern University, with a grant from the National Center for Education Research (NCER) in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education, has provided support for the Summer Research Training Institute on Cluster-Randomized Trials.The Summer Training Institute's aim is to increase the national capacity of researchers to develop and conduct rigorous evaluations of the impact of education interventions. The course sessions will provide intensive training on planning, implementing, and analyzing data for cluster-randomized trials. Principal Investigator Larry Hedges, PhD, is co-organizing the workshop with Elizabeth Tipton, PhD.
Objective
The National Center for Education Research (NCER) in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education announces its fourteenth Summer Research Training Institute on cluster-randomized trials (CRTs) in education sciences. The purpose of this training is to prepare current education researchers to plan, design, conduct, and interpret cluster-randomized trials.
The course will enable participants to:
- Describe the principles underlying randomized experiments and their advantages for making causal inferences.
- Understand the hierarchical structure of populations in education (students nested in classes nested in schools) and its implications for study design and analysis of data.
- Select appropriate measures for assessing outcomes, describing implementation fidelity, and capturing process variables.
- Acquire knowledge and strategies for designing and conducting a cluster-randomized trial
Workshop Location
The Training Institute will be held at Northwestern University in Evanston.
Workshop Leaders
A. Brooks Bowden, University of Pennsylvania
Kylie Flynn, WestEd
Larry Hedges, IPR/Northwestern University
Carolyn Hill, MDRC
Benjamin Kelcey, University of Cincinnati
Spyros Konstantopoulos, Michigan State University
Laura Peck, MEF Associates
Christopher Rhoads, University of Connecticut
Jessaca Spybrook, Western Michigan University
Elizabeth Tipton, IPR/Northwestern University
Contact
CRT Training Institute inquiries
Dr. Lara Faust
Institute of Education Sciences
National Center for Education Research
E-mail: Lara.Faust@ed.gov
Inquiries about submission of the CRT Training
Institute application materials:
Valerie Lyne
Institute for Policy Research
Northwestern University
E-mail: v-lyne@northwestern.edu
Applicants must have a doctoral degree (PhD, EdD) and experience conducting research relevant to education.
Applicants must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States, or must have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or other legal verification of such status).
Preference will be given to individuals who (a) have demonstrated their ability to conduct independent research, (b) are currently employed in a setting in which conducting research relevant to education is part of their regular responsibilities, and (c) can demonstrate that they have a need for the knowledge and skills addressed in the Training Institute. Each application will be evaluated on its own merits. If more than 30 meritorious applications are received, other criteria such as disciplinary, geographical, and institutional diversity will be taken into account.
Applicants must have a solid understanding of statistical methods and be experienced in using personal computers and statistical computer packages. The Training Institute will include hands-on data analysis sessions. Participants are expected to know how to perform basic SPSS or SAS procedures, including running statistical analyses (e.g., frequency distributions, cross-tabulations, means, regression analyses).
Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Postdoctoral fellows, junior researchers, and senior researchers who would benefit from the knowledge and skills addressed in the Summer Training Institute are encouraged to apply.
If selected for participation in the Summer Training Institute, individuals who require accommodations for disabilities should contact Valerie Lyne at Northwestern University (e-mail: v-lyne@northwestern.edu).
Cost
Northwestern University will pay for lodging, instruction, and course materials. A limited amount of travel support is available for special situations where a participant is accepted but lacks funding or for participants from school districts and state government.
Application Procedures
The Summer Training Institute will be offered July 14 - 24, 2025. If you are interested in attending the CRT Training Institute, please complete the online application form and submit a copy of your current curriculum vitae
Your curriculum vitae should include information on:
- Your current title/position at your institution or organization
- Your academic/professional degree(s)
- Your citizenship status (citizen or permanent resident)
- A list of currently funded research grants and the sources of funding
Complete the online application form here by Friday, April 11.
The deadline for applications is Friday, April 11. Applicants will be notified of placement via e-mail by Friday, May 2.
What are the eligibility criteria for applicants to the Summer Institute?
We are only considering applicants who already have a PhD or EdD degree, experience conducting research relevant to education, and who are U.S. citizens or non-citizens with permanent residence status.
Beyond these eligibility criteria, we are giving preference to individuals who
- have demonstrated their ability to conduct independent research,
- are currently employed in a setting in which conducting research relevant to education is part of their regular responsibilities,
- have sufficient methodological and statistical background to benefit from this training, and
- can demonstrate that they have a need for the knowledge and skills addressed in the Training Institute.
I am a postdoctoral student attending an American university on a student visa. Am I eligible?
No. Due to space limitations and our citizenship requirement, the course is open only to U.S. citizens or non-citizen nationals who have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence (i.e., possess a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or other legal verification of such status).
How many people will be accepted for the course?
Up to 30 applicants will be accepted.
Can more than one person from an organization apply?
Yes. We will evaluate each application on its own merits. If we receive more than 30 meritorious applications, we will then take into account other criteria such as disciplinary, geographical, and institutional diversity.
If I am accepted, can I bring my spouse and/or children?
Yes, but at your own expense.
Can you send me the course materials if I am unable to attend?
PowerPoint presentations will be available on this website and on the IES/NCER website as soon as possible after the Training Institute ends.
Do I have to attend all the sessions during the two-week Training Institute?
Yes, we require participants to attend and participate in all of the course sessions and activities during the two-week training period.