Research and Evaluation (R&E) Group at Center for Schools and Communities offers a full complement of services to school districts, state agencies, nonprofits and foundations and will bring extensive experience and training to every phase of your research and evaluation project.
R&E Group has nearly two decades of experience developing data collection systems, preparing grant applications, conducting simple and complex quantitative analyses, authoring general and technical reports, and assisting with program design. It manages projects in their entirety from conception to execution, including data collection, analysis, interpretation and application. R&E Group also provides consultations to existing projects to improve their operation.
Services
Often, organizations struggle with evaluation and research. Just as the demand for data-based decision making and evaluation is increasing, organizations need efficient ways to develop useful information to demonstrate their efforts, effectiveness and quality. To assist organizations in these efforts, the R&E Group offers several products and services:
Data Analyses (quantitative and qualitative)
Descriptive, multivariate and inferential analyses; interviews and focus groups; professional statistical and research reporting.
Logic Modeling and Program Design
Mapping goals to activities and outcomes; developing program logic with theory.
Survey Design and Implementation
Database Conceptualization
Writing and Editing
Technical and general audience reports; statistical graphs and analytic illustrations.
Grant Writing Support
Evaluation designs; needs and best practices research.
Research Briefs
RB 1: Understanding Bullying Prevention Implementation
The first in a series of research briefs explores the nature of teachers’ understanding of, and commitment to, a bullying prevention program.
RB 2: Olweus Bullying Prevention Program: Fidelity and School Characteristics
This Research Brief examines fidelity data from schools that implemented the Olweus Program in Pennsylvania (OBPP) to ascertain how different school conditions relate to program fidelity. Results show that a positive relationship between teachers’ attitudes about OBPP and their implementation of program activities.
RB 3: Bullying Behaviors in Pennsylvania Schools
Examining a sample of nearly 30,000 students, this research brief examines differences in frequent bullying victimization by key school characteristics.
RB 4: Addressing Obesity in Rural Pennsylvania
This research brief focuses on the interplay between rural communities, poverty and obesity through analysis of state and national data to highlight obesity related issues that are more prevalent in rural areas.
RB 5: Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in High Schools: A Review of Literature
This research brief summarizes the literature on bullying among high school students and provides information about the application of bullying prevention programs, including the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, in American high schools.
RB 6: Implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program: How school administrators can improve program effectiveness
This research brief identifies common challenges experienced by schools that have implemented the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program; and discusses ways that school administrators may address bullying by promoting implementation of this research-based program with high fidelity.
RB 7: STEM in Out-of-School Time Programs
This research brief examines the frequency with which science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curricula are taught in out-of-school time (OST) programs and the comfort level that OST staff report when teaching STEM.
RB 8: Building Support for ELs
This research brief outlines teacher supply issues for English language learners in K-12 schools, and then details teacher training that is necessary to ensure they receive meaningful instruction.
RB 9: Using Co-Teaching to Grow Novice Teachers’ Self-Efficacy
This research brief examines the relationship between novice teachers’ self-efficacy and their experiences in a novel co-teaching clinical experience.
RB 10: Principal Preparation for Diverse Communities
The development, recruitment and retention of principals will continue to be an essential element in school success. This research brief reports on the lessons of a principal preparation program.
RB 11: Head Start Collaboration and Partnerships to Support Families Experiencing Homelessness
Pennsylvania’s Head Start program is a critical part of early childhood education. This Research Brief reports on ways that collaboration can enhance the Head Start experience for children and families experiencing homelessness.
Staff
The R&E Group at Center for Schools and Communities is led by Benjamin Cohen, Ph.D. Since 2004, Cohen has been responsible for oversight and design of data collection, analysis, and reporting for several ongoing programs. Prior to working at the Center, Cohen conducted questionnaire design, analysis and reporting for research and consulting firms in Washington, D.C.