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Commentary

Truth Decay, America's Latest Pastime

Detailed data and complex analysis are the foundation of decisionmaking in baseball and many other professions and occupations. But facts are out of favor in current U.S. political and civil discourse, and the public policymaking that accompanies it.

Jul 12, 2018
Commentary

In Reckoning with Today's Truth Wars, Look to America's Past

The declining regard for factual evidence may be a defining characteristic of our current age. Previous eras suggest it is within society's power to restore respect for objective facts. Humankind just needs to put it on the agenda.

Jun 19, 2018
Multimedia

Truth Decay and Trust in Institutions

In this Events @ RAND podcast, the Pew Research Center's Carroll Doherty joins RAND's Jennifer Kavanagh for a discussion about the causes and consequences of Truth Decay and declining trust in institutions.

Jun 7, 2018
Multimedia

Truth Decay: A Narrated Video

"Truth Decay" is the diminishing role of facts and analysis in American public life. RAND is studying the causes and consequences of this phenomenon, and how they are interrelated. We invite other research organizations and individuals to join us in finding potential solutions and responses.

May 16, 2018
Commentary

Open Science and a Culture of Health: You Two Should Talk

By working together, the Culture of Health and Open Science movements could increase their potential to accelerate the use of scientific evidence to address impediments to population health and collective well-being.

Mar 7, 2018
Report

The Majority of Teachers Aren't Clear on the Reading Instruction Approaches Most Aligned with State Standards

English language arts teachers could increase their use of more complex, text-based practices if they received clearer guidance from states and districts about what is expected. They also need better supports and curriculum resources to engage in those approaches.

Feb 21, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Student Writing Accepted as High-Quality Responses to Analytic Text-Based Writing Tasks

This study investigated teachers' assessment of their students' writing in response to analytic text-based writing tasks.

Feb 8, 2018
Commentary

The Diminishing Role of Facts in American Public Life

Without agreement about objective facts and a common understanding of and respect for data and analytical interpretations of those data, it becomes nearly impossible to have the types of meaningful policy debates that form the foundation of democracy.

Jan 17, 2018
Project

Truth Decay: Fighting for Facts and Analysis

RAND is studying “Truth Decay”—the diminishing reliance on facts and analysis in American public life. Truth Decay presents a threat to both evidence-based policymaking and democracy. RAND invites fellow researchers and engaged stakeholders to join our efforts to find solutions.

Jan 16, 2018
Research Brief

Truth Decay: A Threat to Policymaking and Democracy

The line between fact and fiction in American public life is blurring. This “Truth Decay” phenomenon affects democracy and political and civil discourse, driving wedges between policymakers and neighbors alike. But research and analysis can serve as a launching point to rein Truth Decay in.

Jan 16, 2018
Report

Declining Trust in Facts and Institutions Imposes Costs on Society

“Truth Decay” is the diminishing reliance on facts and analysis in American public life. It has many damaging consequences: the erosion of civil discourse, political paralysis, alienation and disengagement from political and civic institutions, and uncertainty over U.S. policy.

Jan 16, 2018
Journal Article

Journal Article

Assessing Students' Use of Evidence and Organization in Response-to-Text Writing: Using Natural Language Processing for Rubric-Based Automated Scoring

This paper presents an investigation of score prediction based on natural language processing for two targeted constructs within analytic text-based writing.

Dec 5, 2017
Research Brief

Research Brief

Big Lift Participation and School Entry Indicators: Early Findings

This brief summarizes results from RAND's descriptive analysis of participation rates and school readiness outcomes for children served in the first year of the Big Lift collective impact initiative.

Nov 28, 2017
Report

Report

Big Lift Participation and School Entry Indicators: Findings for the 2016–2017 Kindergarten Class

The Big Lift is a preschool-third grade early learning initiative in San Mateo County, California. This report provides descriptive analyses of participation in Big Lift programs along with measures of kindergarten-readiness at school entry.

Nov 28, 2017
Commentary

Why ACA Enrollees Need Support After They Sign Up

Providing support for Affordable Care Act enrollees to connect with care they are happy with can help minimize the risk that they will stop seeking routine health care.

Oct 11, 2017
Report

How Are Teachers Perceiving and Addressing State Standards?

A high percentage of mathematics teachers report using instructional materials with some demonstrated evidence of alignment to Common Core State Standards. However, there is less evidence that state standards are playing a role in the materials English language arts teachers use.

Apr 4, 2017
Journal Article

Antibiotics Prescribed as Often During Telemedicine Appointments as In-Person Visits

Patients treated for acute respiratory infections by a doctor on a telephone or live video are as likely to be prescribed an antibiotic as those treated in person. However, patients treated virtually are more often prescribed a broad-spectrum antibiotic, which is concerning because overuse of the drugs increases costs and contributes to antibiotic resistance.

Mar 28, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Perceived Risk of Avian Influenza and Urbanization in Northern Vietnam

Backyard poultry raisers in urban, peri-urban, and rural settings in north Vietnam tend to perceive the highest risk of bird flu in settings where they do not live, which may decrease precautions they take to manage and prevent disease.

Mar 16, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Prevalence and Correlates of Use of Safer Conception Methods in a Prospective Cohort of Ugandan HIV-affected Couples with Fertility Intentions

Among a sample of Ugandan couples with an HIV-positive partner who hope to conceive, about one-third used a "safer" conception method such as timed unprotected intercourse to reduce HIV transmission, but only about half were aware of such methods.

Mar 16, 2017
Journal Article

Journal Article

Making a CASE: Improving Use of Text Evidence in Students' Writing

The authors present four criteria to focus on, using the acronym CASE, when helping students develop the skill of using text evidence to support claims in their writing.

Mar 13, 2017

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