This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Briggs, D. C. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Comments on Slavin: Synthesizing Causal Inferences

An assistant professor at the University of Colorado, School of Education, 249 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309; Derek.Briggs{at}colorado.edu. His research focuses on building sound methodological approaches for the valid measurement and evaluation of growth in student achievement.

When causal inferences are to be synthesized across multiple studies, efforts to establish the magnitude of a causal effect should be balanced by an effort to evaluate the generalizability of the effect. The evaluation of generalizability depends on two factors that are given little attention in current syntheses: construct validity and external validity. The author concludes with six concrete suggestions for ways that future syntheses could be improved to make them more relevant for educational policy makers.

Key Words: causal inference • generalization • research synthesis • What Works Clearinghouse

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. E. Slavin Response to Comments: Evidence-Based Reform in Education: Which Evidence Counts? Educational Researcher, January 1, 2008; 37(1): 47 - 50. [Full Text] [PDF]