Published Research

Report

Vermont Early Care and Education Financing Study: Estimated Costs, Financing Options, and Economic Impacts

Vermont is interested in expanding families' subsidies for early care and education (ECE) programs. This report estimates the costs of a high-quality ECE system with a well-compensated workforce and identifies possible funding sources.

Lynn A. Karoly, Aaron Strong, Christopher Joseph Doss

Report

Assessing the Implications of Policy Options for the Military Personnel Budget: An Analytic Framework for Evaluating Costs and Trade-Offs

A new tool simulates how various Department of the Air Force personnel policy changes could affect military spending. The tool lets users view cost variances and trade-offs when adjusting such factors as personnel count, rank, and experience levels.

Matthew Walsh, Thomas Light, Raymond E. Conley

Report

The Today's Army Spouse Panel Proof-of-Concept Study: Methodological Report

Researchers evaluate the effectiveness of the Today's Army Spouse Panel, an operational proof of concept survey panel of U.S. Army spouses, in recruiting participants and providing timely information representative of Army spouses.

Thomas E. Trail, Carra S. Sims, Michael S. Pollard, Owen Hall

Report

Today's Army Spouse Panel Survey Results: Impact of COVID-19, August 2020 to May 2021

Survey data from the Today's Army Spouse Panel offer insights into how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected U.S. Army spouses in terms of their finances, employment, and child care and highlight the issues they navigated during this challenging period.

Thomas E. Trail, Carra S. Sims, Michael S. Pollard, Owen Hall

Report

Operational Imperative: Investing Wisely to Bolster U.S. Air Bases Against Chinese and Russian Attacks

In this Perspective, the authors synthesize past RAND research on Chinese and Russian missile threats to U.S. overseas air bases and how the U.S. Air Force can cost-effectively counter them.

Christopher Lynch, Rachel Costello, Jacob L. Heim, Andrew Karode, Patrick Mills, Robert S. Tripp, Alan J. Vick

Report

Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Needs for Law Enforcement

As cryptocurrency is increasingly used for both legitimate business transactions and illegal activities, law enforcement must adapt. In this report, researchers describe cryptocurrency-related research and development needs for law enforcement.

Dulani Woods, John S. Hollywood, Jeremy D. Barnum, Danielle Fenimore, Michael J. D. Vermeer, Brian A. Jackson

Research Brief

Managing the Escalation Risks of U.S. Military Activities in the Indo-Pacific

This brief describes how the United States can select and shape its military activities in the Indo-Pacific region to deter Chinese aggression against U.S. allies and partners while also limiting the risks of escalatory Chinese reactions.

Bryan Frederick, Kristen Gunness, Bonny Lin, Cortez A. III Cooper, Bryan Rooney, James Benkowski, Nathan Chandler, Cristina L. Garafola, Jeffrey W. Hornung, Karl P. Mueller, Paul Orner, Timothy R. Heath, Christian Curriden, Emily Ellinger

Dissertation

The Impact of a Summer Program on the Development of Historically Underrepresented Minorities in STEM

Studies ways post-secondary institutions can better the diversity in their STEM disciplines by focusing on pre-college preparation and retention of historically underrepresented high school students by considering the case of a summer bridge program.

Claudia Elizabeth Rodriguez-Solorio

Journal Article

A Consumption-Based Definition of the Middle Class

In this paper, we develop a consumption-based measure of the middle class that closely follows economic theory of constrained optimization.

Melissa Haller, Jeffrey B. Wenger, Melanie A. Zaber, George Zuo

Report

Gun Buyback Programs in the United States

Gun buyback programs compensate individuals who turn over firearms to a public agency or private organization. This essay provides an overview of gun buyback programs in the United States and concludes with an exploration of policy considerations.

Amanda Charbonneau

Report

The Science of Gun Policy: A Critical Synthesis of Research Evidence on the Effects of Gun Policies in the United States, Third Edition

This report, now in its third edition, synthesizes the available scientific evidence for the effects of various firearm policies on firearm deaths, violent crime, the gun industry, defensive gun use, and other outcomes.

Rosanna Smart, Andrew R. Morral, Rajeev Ramchand, Amanda Charbonneau, Jhacova Williams, Sierra Smucker, Samantha Cherney, Lea Xenakis

Report

Considerations Around the Use of Intensive Outpatient Programs for Service Members Who Experienced Sexual Trauma in the U.S. Military

This report summarizes a review of clinical practices and TRICARE requirements for intensive outpatient programs to treat active-duty members affected by the mental health consequences of sexual harassment and sexual assault while in the military.

Kristie L. Gore, Samantha Cherney, Sarah Weilant, Justin Hummer, Linda Cottrell, Coreen Farris

Report

A Multi-Site Evaluation of Law Enforcement Deflection in the United States

The authors describe how law enforcement deflection programs have been implemented at six U.S. sites and identify key program facilitators and barriers. The authors also conducted outcome analyses at two of the sites.

Melissa M. Labriola, Samuel Peterson, Jirka Taylor, Danielle Sobol, Jessica Reichert, Jon Ross, Jac Charlier, Sophia Juarez

Journal Article

Examining the Cross-sectional Association Between Neighborhood Conditions, Discrimination, and Telomere Length in a Predominantly African American Sample

Disproportionate exposure to adverse neighborhood conditions and greater discrimination may contribute to health disparities among African Americans.

Wendy M. Troxel, Jaime Madrigano, Ann C. Haas, Tamara Dubowitz, Andrea L. Russo, Aric A. Prather, Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar, Andrea M. Weinstein, Meryl Butters, Albert Presto, Tiffany L. Gary-Webb

Tool

Science and Technology-Focused Postsecondary Options in the Pittsburgh Area

RAND researchers compiled a list of science- and technology-focused (STF) providers and programs in the Pittsburgh area. Potential students can filter the list to find out which types of degrees or certificates can be earned in which STF fields.

Brian Phillips, Rosemary Li, Melanie A. Zaber, Linnea Warren May, Tobias Sytsma, Stephanie J. Walsh, Elizabeth D. Steiner, Jeffrey B. Wenger, Éder Sousa

Report

Assessing Pittsburgh's Science- and Technology-Focused Workforce Ecosystem

RAND Corporation researchers characterize the science- and technology-focused (STF) workforce ecosystem in the Pittsburgh region and suggest policy changes and investment opportunities to help propel the region's STF sectors in the future.

Melanie A. Zaber, Linnea Warren May, Tobias Sytsma, Brian Phillips, Stephanie J. Walsh, Rosemary Li, Elizabeth D. Steiner, Jeffrey B. Wenger, Éder Sousa, Jessica Arana

Report

Psychological Harms and Treatment of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in Adults: Systematic and Scoping Reviews to Inform Improved Care for Military Populations

Researchers conducted three evidence reviews on interventions for victims of sexual assault and harassment in military settings, barriers and facilitators to accessing care, and associations between victims and specific mental health conditions.

Julia Rollison, Joachim O. Hero, Katie Feistel, Armenda Bialas, Owen Hall, Rosemary Li, Sarah Weilant, Jody Larkin, Coreen Farris, Kristie L. Gore

Research Brief

Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault in Military Settings: A Review of Associated Mental Health Conditions, Treatments, and Access to Care

This brief describes three evidence reviews on psychological interventions for victims of sexual assault and harassment in the military, barriers and facilitators to care, and links between assault or harassment and specific mental health conditions.

Julia Rollison, Joachim O. Hero, Katie Feistel, Armenda Bialas, Owen Hall, Rosemary Li, Sarah Weilant, Jody Larkin, Coreen Farris, Kristie L. Gore

Periodical

RAND Review: January-February 2023

This issue explores the inadequacies of the current system of space governance; China's presence in the Arctic; abortion in the U.S. post-Dobbs; and the security and technology challenges related to Taiwan's domination of the microchip industry.

Report

Promising Services for Justice-Involved Youth: A Scoping Review with Implications for the Los Angeles County Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act

The authors of this report provide a review of the literature that evaluates programs for youth who are involved in the juvenile justice system to identify promising and effective practices, describing implications for Los Angeles County.

D. Michael Applegarth, P'trice Jones, Stephanie Brooks Holliday