Airbag moderation: a new theoretical framework for use in the evaluation of interventions and policies that target

Hall, James, Malmberg, Lars Erik, Lindorff, Ariel, Baumann, Nicole and Sammons, Pamela (2019) Airbag moderation: a new theoretical framework for use in the evaluation of interventions and policies that target. International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI): 32nd Annual Conference, , Stavanger, Norway. 08 - 12 Jan 2019.

Abstract

Many policies, practices, and interventions that we put in place to promote educational equity employ the targeting of resources to certain individuals or to groups. Great stock is then placed on the results of their empirical evaluation. However, one of the common methodological tools we use in these evaluations, Moderation, is not fit for purpose because it fails to test the targeting element alongside potential effectiveness. As a result, those evidence bases that rely on Moderation to demonstrate the effectiveness of policies, practices, and interventions that target are, at best, partial.
Our response was to develop a new methodological framework termed ‘Airbag Moderation’ that simultaneously tests both the targeting and the effectiveness elements of policies, practices, and interventions that target. The presentation first describes this new methodological framework and its origin as the result of drawing together previously unrelated ideas from multiple fields of scientific enquiry. The presentation then illustrates a statistically significant Airbag Moderation effect via analysis of data from a national evaluation of Sure Start Children’s Centres in England.
We encourage the uptake and use of Airbag Moderation, rather than Moderation, as a methodological framework for evaluations concerned with the effectiveness of policies, practices, and interventions that target.

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Contributors

Author: James Hall

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