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Quasi-Experimental Estimates of the Effects of a Preschool Intervention

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  • Arthur J. Reynolds

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Judy A. Temple

    (Northern Illinois University)

Abstract

Estimates of program effects from a compensatory preschool intervention were investigated using several contemporary techniques of bias reduction. These included econometric simulta neous modeling, latent-variable structural modeling, and ordinary least squares regression. These techniques were applied to longitudinal data from Chicago's Child Parent Center preschool program, a Head Start-type intervention. Analyses of 806 Black children followed from kindergarten to Grade 6 indicated that the techniques, by and large, produced similar estimates of program impact on school achievement test scores. Effect sizes ranged from .43 to .67 at school entry to .24 to .30 at Grade 6 (7 years postprogram). These findings were robust across different model specifications and similar to those of randomized studies. The only differences among methods occurred at Grade 3. Findings suggest that different quasi-experi mental estimation methods that attempt to control for selection bias can generate similar estimates of the effects of an educational treatment.

Suggested Citation

  • Arthur J. Reynolds & Judy A. Temple, 1995. "Quasi-Experimental Estimates of the Effects of a Preschool Intervention," Evaluation Review, , vol. 19(4), pages 347-373, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:evarev:v:19:y:1995:i:4:p:347-373
    DOI: 10.1177/0193841X9501900401
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. LaLonde, Robert J, 1986. "Evaluating the Econometric Evaluations of Training Programs with Experimental Data," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 76(4), pages 604-620, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. William T. Gormley Jr., 2007. "Early childhood care and education: Lessons and puzzles," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(3), pages 633-671.
    2. Steven Glazerman & Dan M. Levy & David Myers, 2003. "Nonexperimental Versus Experimental Estimates of Earnings Impacts," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 589(1), pages 63-93, September.
    3. Christina F. Mondi & Arthur J. Reynolds & Brandt A. Richardson, 2020. "Early Childhood Education and Adult Depression: An Attrition Reanalysis With Inverse Propensity Score Weighting," Evaluation Review, , vol. 44(5-6), pages 379-409, October.
    4. A. J. Reynolds & J. A. Temple, "undated". "Extended early childhood intervention and school achievement: Age 13 findings from the Chicago longitudinal study," Institute for Research on Poverty Discussion Papers 1095-96, University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty.
    5. Reynolds, Arthur J., 2004. "Research on early childhood interventions in the confirmatory mode," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 15-38, January.
    6. Reynolds, Arthur J., 1998. "Developing early childhood programs for children and families at risk: Research-based principles to promote long-term effectiveness," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(6), pages 503-523, July.
    7. Reynolds, Arthur J. & Ou, Suh-Ruu, 2004. "Alterable predictors of child well-being in the Chicago longitudinal study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 1-14, January.
    8. Reynolds, Arthur J. & Temple, Judy A. & Ou, Suh-Ruu, 2010. "Preschool education, educational attainment, and crime prevention: Contributions of cognitive and non-cognitive skills," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(8), pages 1054-1063, August.
    9. R. Riportella-Muller, "undated". "Consumer Perspectives on Medicaid Managed Care: Comparing Rural and Urban Enrollees," Institute for Research on Poverty Discussion Papers 1178-98, University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty.
    10. Mersky, Joshua P. & Topitzes, James D. & Reynolds, Arthur J., 2011. "Maltreatment prevention through early childhood intervention: A confirmatory evaluation of the Chicago Child-Parent Center preschool program," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1454-1463, August.
    11. A. J. Reynolds, "undated". "The Chicago Child-Parent Centers: A Longitudinal Study of Extended Early Childhood Intervention," Institute for Research on Poverty Discussion Papers 1126-97, University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty.
    12. Hess, Brian, 2000. "Assessing program impact using latent growth modeling: a primer for the evaluator," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 419-428, November.
    13. Reynolds, Arthur J. & Ou, Suh-Ruu, 2010. "Early childhood to young adulthood: An introduction to the special issue," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(8), pages 1045-1053, August.
    14. J. A. Temple & A. J. Reynolds & W. T. Miedel, "undated". "Can Early Intervention Prevent High School Dropout? Evidence from the Chicago Child-Parent Centers," Institute for Research on Poverty Discussion Papers 1180-98, University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty.
    15. Humphreys, Keith & Phibbs, Ciaran S. & Moos, Rudolf H., 1996. "Addressing self-selection effects in evaluations of mutual help groups and professional mental health services: An introduction to two-stage sample selection models," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 301-308, November.

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