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Russell Cole
Principal Researcher
Russell Cole has expertise in research design, evaluation technical assistance, and systematic reviews. His research focuses on education, teen pregnancy prevention, early childhood and child welfare projects, and systems evaluation.
Since joining Mathematica in 2009, Cole has worked on the design and analysis of several cross-site studies. He is currently serving as principal investigator on a national impact evaluation of the popular teen pregnancy prevention program Making Proud Choices! He is also deputy project director of the cross-site evaluation of the Regional Partnership Grant program, which funds evidence-based services and programs designed to increase the well-being and enhance the safety of children who are in or at risk of out-of-home placements as a result of a parent or caretaker’s substance abuse.
Cole has also been involved in several evaluation technical assistance projects. He has previously served as the principal investigator on an evaluation technical assistance project that provided technical assistance and monitoring to more than 60 local evaluations of federally funded teen pregnancy prevention programs, and is currently providing evaluation technical assistance to grantees serving youth at risk of homelessness.
Cole also has extensive experience in evidence reviews through his work on the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC). On that project, he has held multiple roles, including leading all review products (including intervention reports, single study reviews, and quick review blasts) and serving as the statistical and technical analysis team lead.
He holds a Ph.D. in policy research, evaluation, and measurement from the University of Pennsylvania.
Expertise
- Evaluation design and analysis
- Random assignment
- Evaluation technical assistance
- Teen pregnancy prevention
- Evaluating education programs and policies
Focus Area Topics
- Early Childhood
- Systematic Evidence Reviews
- Education
- Strengthening and Disseminating Research
- Labor: Strengthening and Disseminating Research
- Family Support
- Youth Development
- Human Services
More from Russell
Case Study
The What Works Clearinghouse: Improving Practice, Research, and Policy
In 2002, the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) Institute of Education Sciences (IES) established the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) to collect, review, and report on studies of education interventions. The growing focus on evidence-based decision making increased demand for this type of information. Since 2007, Mathematica has conducted WWC systematic reviews, developed and refined review standards and products, expanded the topics and grade levels studied, and disseminated timely, targeted information to teachers, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Mathematica’s expansion of the WWC and improved dissemination of its products has established it as a trusted source in the educational community. Mathematica built a multi-tiered team of research partners with wide-ranging depth and expertise, as well as a full complement of products tailored to the needs of education practitioners and decision makers.
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