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Evaluation and Mixed-Methods Research
Are the nation’s social programs and policies actually succeeding? Can they be more effective? Westat’s impact, implementation, and outcome evaluations answer these questions, helping clients course correct, if necessary, or embrace new approaches to achieve more favorable results for various populations.
Overview
Evaluations at Westat test approaches governments, foundations, and businesses adopt to alleviate social problems. Westat studies how social programs are implemented, measures program effectiveness, and compares costs and benefits. This work helps clients to learn what works and make course corrections to better achieve their goals.
Our Expertise
Impact Evaluation
Do programs make a difference? Westat evaluates the impacts of social programs. Our impact evaluations assess whether outcomes for program participants are better than they would have been without the program. The goal is to assess the value-added of programs and inform key decisions on whether to adopt, continue, cancel, or expand these programs.
Implementation Evaluation
Programs can be implemented well or poorly—and the difference can really matter. Westat studies how programs are implemented and whether they were implemented with fidelity. The goal is to inform program improvement and help policymakers understand why some programs work better than others.
Outcome Evaluation
Policymakers care about results. Westat evaluates social programs and studies their outcomes—both intended and otherwise—in a wide range of policy areas. Our outcome evaluations assess whether programs and policies are meeting their goals.
Mixed-Methods Research
In addition to our quantitative data collection expertise, we use qualitative methods to reveal attitudes, beliefs and motivations as well as how a study population makes sense of their experiences. Westat offers a rigorous, customized approach that draws on different exploratory and testing methods such as focus groups, in-depth interviews, cognitive interviews, social listening assessments, and message and usability testing. We specialize in cross-cultural studies, including conducting cognitive testing in multiple languages.
Experts
Meet the Team
Projects
Keep Reading
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Administration for Children and Families
What’s the evidence for programs that reduce long-term foster care? -
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
How do you compare literacy skills of adults from around the world? -
Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
How can one examine the policies promoted by Title I/II program initiatives?
Insights
Deep Dive with Our Experts
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Perspective
Westat’s Collaborative, Adaptive Style Supports FoundationsApril 2022
Foundations with a mission to improve the human condition play an important role in helping to solve many of our country’s public challenges—from education and…
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Perspective
Westat and Foundations: An Intellectual Partnership to Find SolutionsFebruary 2022
Collaborative partnerships are the underpinning of all of Westat’s working relationships, but the partnerships it forms with foundations have some special features, says Joy Frechtling,…
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Perspective
Culture of Health: A Vision of Health EquityMarch 2021
In 2014, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) made a long-term commitment to ensure that all of its programming focuses on improving population health, health…