Social Policy
OPRE’s Role in Childcare, Head Start, and TANF Evaluations
The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) plays a vital role in shaping and improving federally funded human services programs—especially in areas like ...
Top 5 Lessons from the OPRE 2024 Methods Meeting
The 2024 OPRE Methods Meeting brought together leading minds in evaluation, social science, and public policy to explore the evolving landscape of federal research ...
How Focus Groups Help Shape Government Policy
Focus groups are a powerful, human-centered tool for shaping effective and inclusive government policy. Unlike surveys or administrative data, focus groups provide rich, qualitative ...
The Science Behind Randomized Control Trials in Social Programs
Randomized control trials (RCTs) are often called the “gold standard” in research—and for good reason. In the world of social programs and public policy, ...
How to Use Administrative Data in Public Policy Studies
Administrative data—the information governments already collect during the delivery of services like education, healthcare, housing, and welfare—has become a cornerstone of modern public policy ...
Best Practices for Evaluating Nonprofit Social Programs
Evaluating nonprofit social programs is essential to ensure that limited resources are being used effectively and that the intended impact is actually being achieved. ...
Why Public Program Accountability Matters More Than Ever
In 2025, public trust in government institutions remains fragile, and expectations for transparency are higher than ever. With growing concerns over income inequality, climate ...
The Role of Evaluation in Child Welfare and Family Services
Evaluating child welfare and family services is essential to ensuring the well-being of vulnerable children and families across the United States. These evaluations use ...
How Social Program Evaluations Help Low-Income Families
Evaluating social programs is a powerful tool in ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most—particularly low-income families. These evaluations use data and ...
10 Most Influential Government Research Projects in the U.S.
Government-funded research has long played a vital role in shaping innovation, economic growth, and public policy in the United States. From groundbreaking medical advancements ...
