Latest Publications from RAND

Impacts of increasing requirements for research and development (R&D) cost transparency: Literature review March 31, 2023

Jon Sussex, Charlotte Davies, Zuzanna Marciniak-Nuqui, Mark Cabling, Jorge Mestre-Ferrandiz, Andrew W. Mulcahy

A literature review of academic and policy papers shows that increasing the transparency of the research and development costs of new medicines is much discussed. We find that advocates expect that transparency would lead to greater trust in the pharmaceutical industry and 'fairer' prices, but others fear it would discourage investment in R&D and impose administrative costs. Evidence to support either set of views is lacking, however.

The Improving Instructional System Coherence Toolkit: A Resource for K–12 Districts and Schools March 30, 2023

Julia H. Kaufman, Elaine Lin Wang, Kate Kennedy, Jonathan Schweig, Katheryn Giglio

This toolkit, along with a workbook and slide deck, is intended to help district and school leaders investigate and reflect on the extent to which coherence is present in their instructional systems, with the goal of improving coherence. This toolkit was developed as part of a research study examining teachers' perceptions of system coherence and how coherence is connected to instructional practices.

Coherence in English Language Arts and Mathematics Instructional Systems Across the United States March 30, 2023

Elaine Lin Wang, Jonathan Schweig, Julia H. Kaufman, V. Darleen Opfer, Tiffany Berglund

Using survey responses from a nationally representative sample of public school kindergarten through grade 12 (K–12) English language arts and mathematics teachers in the 2021–2022 school year, RAND researchers examine teachers' perceptions of instructional system coherence — i.e., the extent to which components of the system are aligned with standards and provide teachers with consistent messages and guidance about what and how to teach.

Mid-Atlantic Regional Climate Impacts Summary and Outlook: Winter 2022–2023 March 29, 2023

Krista Romita Grocholski, Michelle E. Miro, Jessica Spaccio, Samantha Borisoff, Arthur T. DeGaetano

This seasonal climate summary draws from a variety of scientific resources for the benefit of policymakers, practitioners, residents, and community leaders in the Mid-Atlantic region, with a focus on the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This edition includes details on winter 2022–2023 weather, regional climate trends, and the upcoming spring season. An interactive tool shows an analysis of how the average number of days per year with cold low temperatures is projected to change in the future.

Veterans' Employment During Recessions: Veterans' Issues in Focus March 29, 2023

Daniel Schwam, James V. Marrone

Newly separated service members face unique challenges as they enter the civilian labor market, so how can they manage their expectations during this critical period? A better understanding of veterans’ employment support needs and how economic shocks affect veterans and nonveterans differently can help veterans, employers, policymakers, and veteran-serving organizations prepare for future disruptions and uncertainty.

Emerging Options for Field-Grade Officer Promotions in the U.S. Air Force March 29, 2023

Albert A. Robbert, John S. Crown, Agnes Gereben Schaefer, Matthew Walsh, Diana Y. Myers, Anthony Lawrence, Ignacio A. Lara

The Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act established an alternative framework for setting promotion policies for military officers in competitive categories. The authors examine whether a shift to alternative promotion authority (APA) would be beneficial to the U.S. Air Force, how it would be implemented, and the use of related policy options — merit sequencing and lineal zone management — under either conventional or APA.

Optimizing Portfolio-Level Modernization Investment: An Overview of the Aim Point Investment Model (APIM) March 27, 2023

Katharina Ley Best, Jeremy M. Eckhause, M. Wade Markel, Nathaniel Edenfield, Duncan Long, Lauren A. Mayer, Tony Nuber, Liam Regan, Michael J. D. Vermeer, Dulani Woods, et al.

This report introduces the Aim Point Investment Model, which allocates portfolio-level resources based on programs' utility and existing Army data sources, subject to constraints on the U.S. Army's ability to employ those resources productively. This model allows decisionmakers to quickly understand the implications of changing operational prioritization and budget constraints in terms of real effects on actual program-level funding.

Why National Security Needs Neurodiversity: Drawing on a Wider Range of Cognitive Talents to Tackle National Security Challenges March 27, 2023

Cortney Weinbaum, Omair Khan, Teresa D. Thomas, Bradley D. Stein

This brief summarizes research and analysis for national security managers and employees who seek to better understand neurodivergence and neurodiversity and desire actionable steps to achieve neurodiverse inclusivity in national security workplaces.

Neurodiversity and National Security: How to Tackle National Security Challenges with a Wider Range of Cognitive Talents March 27, 2023

Cortney Weinbaum, Omair Khan, Teresa D. Thomas, Bradley D. Stein

This report provides analysis about neurodivergence and neurodiversity for the national security community and steps to achieve neurodiverse inclusivity. The authors describe the benefits that people with neurodivergence bring to national security; challenges in recruiting, working with, and managing a neurodiverse workforce; and barriers in national security workplaces that prevent agencies from realizing the full benefits of neurodiversity.

The Weinberg Center's Elder Abuse Shelter Model: Ready for Impact Evaluation March 23, 2023

Sierra Smucker, Jirka Taylor, Ivy Todd, Emily Hoch, Monique Martineau, Deven Clark, Meagan Cahill, Esther M. Friedman

RAND researchers conducted a formative evaluation and evaluability assessment of the Weinberg Center’s Elder Abuse Shelter (EAS) in New York and designed three rigorous studies to test the impact of the EAS model.

Evaluability Assessment and Evaluation Options for an Elder Abuse Shelter Model March 23, 2023

Sierra Smucker, Jirka Taylor, Ivy Todd, Emily Hoch, Monique Martineau, Deven Clark, Meagan Cahill, Esther M. Friedman

RAND researchers conducted a formative evaluation and evaluability assessment of the Weinberg Center's EAS in New York and designed three rigorous studies to test the impact of the EAS model. Researchers found that the Center's EAS is well established, and the program model was organizationally and programmatically ready to be evaluated, though data collection practices should be strengthened before implementing the evaluation designs.

Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Prison Education: Survey Results March 23, 2023

Lois M. Davis, Susan Turner, Michelle C. Tolbert, Allison Kirkegaard, Beverly A. Weidmer

The authors examine trends in the overall coronavirus disease 2019 infection rate for the U.S. state prison population and present the results of a 2022 survey of state correctional education directors to assess the impact of the pandemic and response efforts on education programs in state prison systems.

Data-Enabled Approaches for Enhancing the Air Force Transformational Capability Pipeline March 23, 2023

Matthew Walsh, Lance Menthe, Jonathan L. Brosmer, Julie George, Christine Kistler LaCoste, Eric Hastings, Sherrill Lingel, Éder Sousa

The Air Force Transformational Capabilities Office aims to foster capabilities across initiatives. To show how human-centered, data-enhanced decision processes can be used to determine which concepts to advance into the capability pipeline, the authors used a multimethod qualitative approach and developed a data science tool to extract information from free-text descriptions. They demonstrate the tool and foresight methods in three case studies.

Opportunities and Risks of 5G Military Use in Europe March 23, 2023

Mary Lee, James Dimarogonas, Edward Geist, Shane Manuel, Ryan A. Schwankhart, Bryce Downing

The fifth-generation (5G) technology standard for broadband cellular communications is expanding in Europe and will offer many more capabilities than the existing fourth generation long-term evolution standard. The authors consider U.S. military uses of the 5G technology standard for cellular communications in a notional 2030 time frame, concentrating on a future smart logistics mission in the Baltics and surrounding countries.

RAND Review: March-April 2023 March 22, 2023

The cover story describes how K–12 schools can build trust with students to increase threat reporting and strengthen school safety. The Q&A with Ashley Woo explores how restrictions on race- and gender-related topics are affecting teachers.

An Initial Methodology for Evaluating Social Equity Performance in Disaster Mitigation Grants: The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program March 22, 2023

Melissa L. Finucane, Noreen Clancy, Andrew M. Parker, Jessica Welburn Paige, Karishma V. Patel, Devin Tierney, Michael T. Wilson, Peggy Wilcox, Tucker Reese, Jhacova Williams, et al.

Some U.S. communities, such as low-income or minority communities, are disproportionately affected by escalating natural disasters. The authors explore initial steps toward a methodology that can be used by the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program to both communicate the pathway to building community resilience in an equitable way and track the program's progress toward participation and success in the BRIC program.

The Russian General Staff: Understanding the Military's Decisionmaking Role in a "Besieged Fortress" March 22, 2023

Alexis A. Blanc, Alyssa Demus, Sandra Kay Evans, Michelle Grisé, Mark Hvizda, Marta Kepe, Natasha Lander, Krystyna Marcinek

Because of the increasing militarization of Russian foreign policy since 2008, it is important to understand the formal authorities and responsibilities of the Russian General Staff as well as its capacity to influence Russia's national security decisionmaking process. In this report, the authors develop a foundational text for policymakers and warfighters to improve collective understanding of this institution.

Getting Students to (and Through) Advanced Math: Where Course Offerings and Content Are Not Adding Up March 21, 2023

Rebecca L. Wolfe, Elizabeth D. Steiner, Jonathan Schweig

High schoolers who take advanced math have advantages in college admissions and in securing STEM careers. Although there are many reasons some students might opt out of taking advanced math, structural inequalities create barriers to participation for students throughout primary and secondary schooling. This report examines how students' opportunities to prepare for and take advanced math courses in the United States differs by school context.

Supporting Equitable Math Instruction in California: Findings from the 2022 Learn Together Survey and the 2022 American Instructional Resources Survey March 21, 2023

Ashley Woo, Elizabeth D. Steiner

In 2023, California will implement a new statewide math framework that will drive curriculum decisions and pedagogical approaches for years to come. RAND researchers leveraged data collected from surveys of math teachers in California to paint a picture of math instruction throughout the state. These data illuminate ways in which state and local education leaders can foster equitable instruction in the context of the state's new framework.

Behavioral Health Care Delivery Following the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Utilization, Telehealth, and Quality of Care for Service Members with PTSD, Depression, or Substance Use Disorder March 20, 2023

Kimberly A. Hepner, Carol P. Roth, Jessica L. Sousa, Teague Ruder, Ryan Andrew Brown, Layla Parast, Harold Alan Pincus

This report examines changes in behavioral health care delivered to service members by the Military Health System following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, including patterns of care, use of telehealth, and quality of care. The findings and recommendations are intended to inform improvements to behavioral health care in the Military Health System and provide insights into the implications of its ongoing integration of telehealth.