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The role of open science practices in scaling evidence-based prevention programs

Author

Listed:
  • Robert Ammerman
  • Anne Duggan
  • John List
  • Lauren Supplee
  • Dana Suskind

Abstract

The goal of creating evidence-based programs is to scale them at sufficient breadth to support population-level improvements in critical outcomes. However, this promise is challenging to fulfill. One of the biggest issues for the field is the reduction in effect sizes seen when a program is taken to scale. This paper discusses an economic perspective that identifies the underlying incentives in the research process that lead to scale up problems and to deliver potential solutions to strengthen outcomes at scale. The principles of open science are well aligned with this goal. One prevention program that has begun to scale across the United States is early childhood home visiting. While there is a substantial impact research on home visiting, overall average effect size is .10 and a recent national randomized trial found attenuated effect sizes in programs implemented under real-world conditions. The paper concludes with a case study of the relevance of the economic model and open science in developing and scaling evidence-based home visiting. The case study considers how the traditional approach for testing interventions has influenced home visiting's evolution to date and how open science practices could have supported efforts to maintain impacts while scaling home visiting. It concludes by considering how open science can accelerate the refinement and scaling of home visiting interventions going forward, through accelerated translation of research into policy and practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Ammerman & Anne Duggan & John List & Lauren Supplee & Dana Suskind, 2021. "The role of open science practices in scaling evidence-based prevention programs," Natural Field Experiments 00741, The Field Experiments Website.
    • Handle: RePEc:feb:natura:00741
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Charles Michalopoulos & Kristen Faucetta & Carolyn J. Hill & Zimena A. Portilla & Lori Burrell & Helen Lee & Anne Duggan & Virginia Knox, "undated". "Impacts on Family Outcomes of Evidence-Based Early Childhood Home Visiting: Results from the Mother and Infant Home Visiting Program Evaluation," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 3adcbd3368c545679a6784b8a, Mathematica Policy Research.
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    3. Luigi Butera & Philip Grossman & Daniel Houser & John List & Marie-Claire Villeval, 2020. "A New Mechanism to Alleviate the Crises of Confidence in Science - With an Application to the Public Goods Game," Artefactual Field Experiments 00684, The Field Experiments Website.
    4. John A. List, 2020. "Non est Disputandum de Generalizability? A Glimpse into The External Validity Trial," NBER Working Papers 27535, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    7. Emily Sama-Miller & Lauren Akers & Andrea Mraz-Esposito & Marykate Zukiewicz & Sarah Avellar & Diane Paulsell & Patricia Del Grosso, "undated". "Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness Review: Executive Summary," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 87df04cf10f344939c4ffce2e, Mathematica Policy Research.
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    10. Omar Al-Ubaydli & John A. List & Dana L. Suskind, 2017. "What Can We Learn from Experiments? Understanding the Threats to the Scalability of Experimental Results," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(5), pages 282-286, May.
    11. Luigi Butera & Philip J Grossman & Daniel Houser & John A List & Marie Claire Villeval, 2020. "A New Mechanism to Alleviate the Crises of Confidence in Science With An Application to the Public Goods GameA Review," Working Papers halshs-02512932, HAL.
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    1. John List, 2021. "The Voltage Effect in Behavioral Economics," Artefactual Field Experiments 00733, The Field Experiments Website.

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