Scientifically Based Research Defined

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As defined in Title IX of the No Child Left Behind Act, the term "scientifically based research" is defined as:

• "(A) means research that involves the application of rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures to obtain reliable and valid knowledge relevant to education activities and programs; and (B) includes research that:
  • (i) employs systematic, empirical methods that draw on observation or experiment
  • (ii) involves rigorous data analyses that are adequate to test the stated hypotheses and justify the general conclusions drawn
  • (iii) relies on measurements or observational methods that provide reliable and valid data across evaluators and observers, across multiple measurements and observations and across studies by the same or different investigators
  • (iv) is evaluated using experimental or quasi-experimental designs in which individuals, entities, programs or activities are assigned to different conditions and with appropriate controls to evaluate the effects of the condition of interest, with a preference for random-assignment experiments or other designs to the extent that those designs contain within-condition or across-condition controls
  • (v) ensures that experimental studies are presented in sufficient detail and clarity to allow for replication or, at a minimum, offer the opportunity to build systematically on their findings
  • (vi) has been accepted by a peer-reviewed journal or approved by a panel of independent experts through a comparably rigorous, objective and scientific review

Source:

No Child Left Behind Act, TITLE IX - GENERAL PROVISIONS, PART A SEC. 9101. DEFINITIONS U.S. Department of Education

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