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Methodology

RAND researchers have pioneered several different methodologies, such as the Delphi method and robust decisionmaking, and continue to apply their methodological expertise in multidisciplinary projects that may require a range of capabilities, including modeling and simulation, survey research, economic or statistical analysis, or planning and forecasting.

Tool

Identifying and Planning for Vulnerabilities in the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District’s Water Management Plans

This interactive tool presents the results of a study that evaluated the performance of the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District water plans under a range of future conditions, including climate change, drought occurrence, and water demand.

Jan 6, 2022
Blog

What Sounds Do a Million Random Digits Make?

The title of RAND's 1955 classic, A Million Random Digits with 100,000 Normal Deviates, doesn't exactly dance off the page. But Paul Dunham, a sound artist in New Zealand, thought the work could make its own kind of music.

Jan 5, 2022
Commentary

At the Intersection of Leadership, Strategy, and Foresight

Police leaders spend considerable time developing strategic plans, but events and circumstances can evolve in unanticipated ways. To create survivable plans, leaders should assess capabilities and the environment within which they work. To do so, they should incorporate foresight to develop the adaptability necessary to thrive.

Dec 28, 2021
Tool

Getting to Outcomes® Handbook for U.S. Air and Space Force Community Action Planning

Getting To Outcomes helps Air and Space Force Community Action Teams develop a Community Action Plan. The Handbook includes guidance and tools. The Resource Guide provides links and tips. The Workbook contains blank versions of the tools.

Dec 28, 2021
Journal Article

Conspiracy Theories Have Much in Common. Their Differences May Hold the Key to Identifying When They Turn Violent.

RAND/Google collaboration to improve machine learning models to detect and understand the rhetorical functions of conspiracy theories over social media.

Dec 22, 2021
Journal Article

CPS Nonresponse During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Explanations, Extent, and Effects

This paper examines survey nonresponse in the CPS at the start of the pandemic and estimates to what extent nonresponse led to an underestimate of the unemployment rate.

Dec 21, 2021
Journal Article

Adaptive Water Management in the Face of Uncertainty: Integrating Machine Learning, Groundwater Modeling and Robust Decision Making

This study examines climate change and water resources management challenges facing water suppliers in drought-prone regions.

Dec 21, 2021
Journal Article

A Dynamic Behavioral Model of Korean Saving, Work, and Benefit Claiming Decisions

We develop a model that captures elements of the South Korean National Pension Scheme and behavioral responses in labor supply, savings and benefit claiming to changes in the public pension system using a sample of married couples nearing retirement.

Dec 21, 2021
Report

Using social media data to 'nowcast' international migration around the globe

The aim of this study was to develop a tool to 'nowcast' migrant stocks by using real-time data from the Facebook Marketing Application Programming Interface (API) and official migration data from EU member states and states in the United States.

Dec 16, 2021
Journal Article

Moving Beyond the Classic Difference-In-Differences Model: A Simulation Study Comparing Statistical Methods for Estimating Effectiveness of State-Level Policies

Researchers conducted an extensive simulation study to compare the statistical performance of commonly used methods for evaluating state-level opioid policies, including popular difference-in-differences methods.

Dec 15, 2021
Journal Article

Health Disparities in the U.S. Gulf Coast: The Interplay of Environmental Disaster, Material Loss, and Residential Segregation

We study the interrelationships between health, residential segregation, and disaster-related material losses (income loss, job loss, economic/property damages) due to the worst ever man-made disaster of its kind, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Dec 15, 2021
Journal Article

Modelling the Impact of Social Distancing and Targeted Vaccination on the Spread of COVID-19 Through a Real City-Scale Contact Network

We use mobile device data to construct empirical interpersonal physical contact networks in the city of Portland, Oregon, both before and after social distancing measures were enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dec 15, 2021
Commentary

The Future of REF: Driving a Culture to Maximise High-Quality Research and Impact

To understand the impact of the Research Excellence Framework, RAND Europe studied the attitudes of the United Kingdom's research community towards the assessment. Through surveys, interviews, and focus groups, the study team was able to gain valuable insight into researcher views across disciplines, career stages, and types of institutions.

Dec 14, 2021
Journal Article

Recalibrating the Belt and Road Initiative Amidst Deep Uncertainties

We describe the deep uncertainties affecting Belt and Road Initiative decision making, and identify drawbacks of existing BRI policy analysis in light of its future challenges.

Dec 9, 2021
Journal Article

Best Practices in Statistical Computing

In this paper, we describe the key steps for implementing a code quality assurance process that researchers can follow to improve their coding practices throughout a project to assure the quality of the final data, code, analyses, and results.

Dec 8, 2021
Journal Article

Improving Mental Health Guardianship: From Prevention to Treatment

The authors sought to identify the most promising strategies for improving the mental health guardianship process in Los Angeles County for adults with mental illness who are gravely disabled.

Dec 7, 2021
News Release

Greater Adoption of Telemedicine Could Reap Benefits for the Canadian Economy of Nearly 6 Billion CAD Annually

Increasing the use of telemedicine in Canada through teleconsultations between patients and their primary care provider could lead to benefits for patients, society, and the economy. The economic value of time saved, through fewer hours spent on traveling to appointments and waiting, could be up to 5 billion CAD alone each year.

Dec 6, 2021
Research Brief

Greater adoption of telemedicine could offer economic and social benefits for Canada

This brief summarises the potential impact of increased, long-term telemedicine use in Canada. It was found that teleconsultations could boost the economy in terms of cost savings from fewer missed appointments and visits to emergency departments, and a reduction in travel times for patients.

Dec 6, 2021
Report

The potential socio-economic impact of telemedicine in Canada

This study examined the potential impact in Canada of continued, long-term use of telemedicine. Researchers found that widespread use of teleconsultations could lead to significant benefits for patients, the economy and wider society.

Dec 6, 2021
Blog

Addressing Anti-Asian Racism, Stabilizing U.S. Rivalries, the Debt-Ceiling Fight: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on countering anti-Asian racism, the instability of U.S. rivalries with Russia and China, the rise in extremist online activity, and more.

Dec 3, 2021

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