A Registry of International Early Childhood Development Research: Essential Infrastructure Supports for Knowledge Management, Collaboration, and Efficient Translation of Science to Practice

To design studies that fill gaps in existing knowledge and build on innovations in research and practice, international early childhood researchers studying interventions and policies targeting early childhood development (ECD) need to sort quickly through the existing evidence. Researchers have no systematic resources or tools to manage the vast amount of existing knowledge, document which interventions have been tried in a given country/region, and support collaboration among groups of researchers with similar interests. Duplication of effort within and across countries and regions is a drain on the limited research funds available and slows down the translation of intervention science to practice. The publication bias toward studies that find significant results also impedes knowledge development and transfer. There is no way to learn about what has been tried in international ECD intervention programs and failed to affect targeted outcomes. Inefficiencies based on lack of systems that document scientific progress impede the provision of effective interventions to children in need. An international registry of early childhood development (ECD) intervention research and evaluation projects can serve as an important first step in filling this resource gap.