Workshops on Quasi-Experimental Design
and Analysis in Education

Sponsored by the Spencer Foundation

With the generous financial support of the Spencer Foundation, Professors Tom Cook of Northwestern University and Will Shadish of University of California, Merced, will be leading two workshops in 2008 on the design and analysis of practical quasi-experiments for use in education. The dates of the workshops are: August 4 - 8 and August 11 - 15.

These workshops are designed to complement the current interest in randomized experiments in education by simultaneously seeking to improve the quality of the quasi-experiments that are needed when random assignment is not feasible or breaks down. Several recent analyses of the quality of quasi-experiments in education point to designs and analyses that are generally below the state of the art, and so the workshop's principal aim is to improve this state.

Most of the 90 attendees will be from academia and school districts, but there will be some from contract research firms and the Federal government as well. Most attendees will already have a PhD, but senior graduate students working on quasi-experimental matters are also encouraged to apply. We are particularly looking for people who are doing — or plan to do — a specific quasi-experimental project or who are active in writing about quasi-experimental theory or practice or causal analysis in general.

Thanks to Spencer's generosity, the costs for tuition and meals during the workshop will be covered. Attendees are responsible for all costs related to travel and lodging. In a few cases of special need, it will also be possible to cover all travel costs for attendees. Attendees who want to avail themselves of this funding should explain why they themselves or their organization cannot pay for these expenses.

Attendees will be encouraged to bring details of quasi-experiments they are doing or contemplating. After the workshop, there can be some follow up with individual projects and general theoretical matters.

While applicants can only attend one workshop, they may apply for both. The deadline for applications for the first workshop is June 2, and for the second workshop the deadline is June 23.

By following the link above, you will be able to access the application form. General questions and formal applications (accompanied by a CV and a statement of interest) should be directed either electronically to burke@northwestern.edu or by mail to: