Guest Editors: Gian Paolo Barbetta, Catholic University of Milan; Douglas J. Besharov, University of Maryland; and Frans Leeuw, Maastricht University
The International Network for Social Policy Teaching and Research, the University of Maryland, and Evaluation Review will cosponsor a conference on rigorous impact evaluation in Europe. The conference will be held in Torino, Italy, beginning with a dinner on Sunday, March 11 and concluding on Tuesday, March 13.
The conference honors Professor Alberto P. Martini of the Università del Piemonte Orientale (Alessandria, Italy) and his efforts to advance the rigorous evaluation of social programs in Italy and in Europe more broadly. In recognition of his work, Dr. Martini received a special award in the Italian Senate building from the University of Maryland and the International Network for Social Policy Teaching and Research on July 11, 2017. (For more information on the award, see http://www.insp.umd.edu/albertomartini.html)
This is the Call for Papers for that conference and for a Special Issue of Evaluation Review on Rigorous Impact Evaluation in Europe. Subject matter areas include, but are not limited to, child welfare, criminal justice, education, employment and the labor market, families and children, health, homelessness, migration, old age and pensions, social policy, and, perhaps, the environment. We seek papers on:
- The results of original rigorous impact evaluations; i.e., with an explicit counterfactual, using either experimental or non-experimental methods.
- The relation between rigorous impact evaluation and policy.
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
- The methods of rigorous impact evaluation.
Some connection to Europe (e.g., location of the study, location of the evaluation-policy interaction, or affiliation of the scholars) is highly preferred, but is not absolutely required. A focus on Italy or some relation to Dr. Martini’s work would be an advantage (but also not required).
Preference for inclusion in the Special Issue of Evaluation Review will be given to papers that are presented at the conference. Presenting at the conference, however, is not required to have a paper considered for the Special Issue, and presenting at the conference does not bind authors to submit their papers for the Special Issue. Submitted papers will receive peer review according to the Evaluation Review process.
Authors interested in having a paper considered for either the conference, the Special Issue of Evaluation Review, or both, should send a two page abstract—no later than December 15—to: Jason Scott, University of Maryland (jmscot01@umd.edu).
In the abstract, please indicate whether you could present at the conference and, as appropriate, the connection of the paper to Europe, Italy, or Dr. Martini’s work.
Authors will be notified by January 8, 2018 of whether their abstract has been accepted for the conference and/or encouraged for submission to the Special Issue of Evaluation Review. The notification will include information on the conference and the deadline for submitting final papers to Evaluation Review (tentatively May 15, 2018). Conference papers will be circulated approximately two weeks before the conference (i.e., February 26, 2018).
Questions should be directed to Jason Scott at jmscot01@umd.edu.
Please note that there will be a $100 conference registration fee.
