Mathematica is conducting this study to provide new information on preschool special education programs and inform policymakers and educators about promising practices to improve outcomes for preschool children with disabilities.
John Deke
Senior Fellow
Expertise
- Design and analysis of data
- Random assignment
- Regression discontinuity
- Propensity score matching
Focus Areas
- Education
- Strengthening and Disseminating Research
- Labor: Strengthening and Disseminating Research
- Human Services
About John
John Deke has experience in the design and analysis of data from rigorous evaluations based on diverse designs, including random assignment, regression discontinuity, and propensity score matching.
Some recent examples of Deke’s work include a clustered randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating mandatory random student drug testing, a clustered RCT evaluating four supplemental reading comprehension curricula, and an evaluation of supplemental educational services based on a regression discontinuity design (RDD). Deke has also contributed to the development of evidence standards for the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC), including attrition standard for RCTs and standards for RDDs. He currently leads the WWC Statistical and Technical Analysis Team responsible for refining WWC evidence standards. Deke has directed two methodological studies to provide analytic and technical support to the Regional Education Laboratories. The first examined the statistical precision gains from adjusting for different types of pre-test measures in clustered RCTs in education. The second study examined the potential for control-group contamination in RCTs that rely on within-school, as opposed to between-school, random assignment.
Deke holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Key Publications
A Strong Case for Rethinking Causal Inference
Jun 14, 2023
Putting Rigorous Evidence Within Reach: Lessons Learned from the New Heights Evaluation
Sep 01, 2020
The Effects of a Principal Professional Development Program Focused on Instructional Leadership (Study Highlights)
Oct 30, 2019
The Effects of a Principal Professional Development Program Focused on Instructional Leadership
Oct 30, 2019
Causal Validity Considerations for Including High Quality Non-Experimental Evidence in Systematic Reviews
Jun 30, 2018
Matched Comparison Group Design Standards in Systematic Reviews of Early Childhood Interventions
Jun 01, 2017
The WWC Attrition Standard: Sensitivity to Assumptions and Opportunities for Refining and Adapting to New Contexts
Apr 01, 2017
Race to the Top: Implementation and Relationship to Student Outcomes (Executive Summary)
Oct 26, 2016
Design and Analysis Considerations for Cluster Randomized Controlled Trials That Have a Small Number of Clusters
Oct 01, 2016
Addressing Attrition Bias in Randomized Controlled Trials: Considerations for Systematic Evidence Reviews
Jul 30, 2015
Using the Linear Probability Model to Estimate Impacts on Binary Outcomes in Randomized Controlled Trials
Dec 30, 2014
Understanding Variation in Treatment Effects in Education Impact Evaluations: An Overview of Quantitative Methods
May 22, 2014
Effectiveness of Supplemental Educational Services
Apr 30, 2014
Frequently Asked Questions About the Implications of Clustering in Clustered Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
Dec 30, 2013
Frequently Asked Questions: Evaluation Start-Up
Jul 30, 2011
Effectiveness of Selected Supplemental Reading Comprehension Interventions: Findings from Two Student Cohorts
May 30, 2010