Areas of Expertise
Patient-centered Care
Patient-centered care is based on establishing an effective continuous partnership between clinicians and patients and between health care organizations and consumers.
Recent Reports
- Team Training in Health Care: A Review of Team Training and a Look Toward The Future
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Recent Projects
Performance Management
AIR uses surveys, interviews, and other diagnostic techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of organizations across a range of organizational functions and dimensions, such as quality of leadership and interpersonal interactions, culture and climate, communications and decision-making, and work motivation and incentives.
We provide in-depth survey feedback, perform root-cause analysis to determine the reasons for organizational breakdowns, and propose changes or refinements of managerial and human resources policies and behaviors to address problems and to promote effective change. We also perform best practices studies to provide an organization’s management with direction that is based on the previously successful efforts of others.
Recent Reports
- Best Practices for Event Review Committees
- Integrating State Administrative Records To Manage Substance Abuse Treatment System Performance
- Post-Training Feedback: The Relative Effectiveness of Team- Versus Instructor-Led Debriefs
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Recent Projects
Performance Measurement
AIR supports the development and use of outcome-based performance assessment to help educators focus on what students actually can do after they are taught. AIR also uses performance measurement data in its evaluations of educational programs.
Recent Reports
- Toward the Structural Transformation of Schools: Innovations in Staffing
- Measures and Methods for the National Reporting System for Adult Education
- Integrating State Administrative Records To Manage Substance Abuse Treatment System Performance
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Recent Projects
Persons with Disabilities
AIR has nationally recognized experts who address the needs of persons with disabilities, their families, and their service providers. AIR has expertise in federal and state policies in early intervention, special education, and vocational rehabilitation. We are also experts in translating rigorous research into improved practice in states and localities across the country.
Recent Reports
- National Disability Policy: A Progress Report
- Improving Outcomes for Youth with Disabilities in the Juvenile Justice System
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Recent Projects
Postsecondary Education
AIR’s research and evaluation work in postsecondary education identifies successful practices to increase educational access and to coordinate K-12 preparation with postsecondary needs. We explore cost-effective ways to deliver postsecondary educational services and training, and help colleges and universities foster environments that maximize learning, research productivity, and innovation.
Recent Reports
- The Price of a Science Ph.D.
- Higher Education Pays: The Initial Earnings of Graduates of Texas Colleges and Universities Who Are Working in Texas
- The Adult Education Training and Education Survey (ATES) Pilot Study
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Recent Projects
- ELL Content Centers
- St. Louis Regional College Access Pipeline (CAP)
- College & Career Readiness & Success Center
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Recent Products
Professional Development
Recent Reports
- A Literature Review of STEM Graduate Education
- What the United States Can Learn From Singapore’s World-Class Mathematics System: An Exploratory Study
- Using Multifacet Rasch Analysis to Examine the Effectiveness of Rater Training
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Recent Projects
Recent Products
Program and Impact Evaluation in Developing Countries
AIR is experienced evaluating complex programs in low- and middle-income countries. We design and conduct impact evaluations of programs and policies using experimental and quasi-experimental designs. We work with donors, governments, and foundations to ensure that our studies provide them with evidence-based findings that address their programmatic and policy needs. Our partners in these evaluations are typically in-country organizations and individuals.
Recent Reports
- Child Friendly Schools Evaluation: Country Report for Nigeria
- Child Friendly Schools Evaluation: Country Report for Thailand
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Recent Projects
Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)
The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a system of international assessments that focus on 15-year-olds' capabilities in reading literacy, mathematics literacy, and science literacy. It emphasizes functional skills that students have acquired as they near the end of mandatory schooling. PISA is organized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental organization of industrialized countries. Begun in 2000, PISA is administered every 3 years. AIR’s experts provide analytical support for U.S. participation in PISA, as well as technical consultation and management support, including expert analysis, and technical review of assessment frameworks, field test items, and reports.
Recent Reports
- Highlights from PISA 2006: Performance of U.S. 15-Year-Old Students in Science and Mathematics Literacy in an International Context
- Comparative Indicators of Education in the United States and Other G-8 Countries: 2009
- Lessons Learned from U.S. International Science Performance
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Recent Projects
Recent Products
Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC)
The Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) measures the literacy and numeracy skills of people between the ages of 16 and 65. It also examines how well people solve problems in technology-rich environments. The first administration of PIAAC will be in 2011. AIR provides technical consultation and management support to PIACC, including expert analysis and technical review of assessment frameworks, field test items, and reports.
Recent Projects
Program Support and Evaluation
AIR’s team of evaluation and workforce experts work with government and private sector clients to develop and improve programs, systems, and processes to optimize organizational performance. We conduct process and impact evaluations, applying our expertise in research design, data collection, and quantitative and qualitative analysis to determine program effectiveness and to identify best practices. Our evaluations provide concrete, actionable recommendations to align and improve programs, systems, and work processes.
Recent Reports
- Evaluating ARRA Programs and Other Educational Reforms: A Guide for States
- Public School Practices for Violence Prevention and Reduction: 2003–04
- Exploring Assignments, Student Work, and Teacher Feedback in Reforming High Schools Report
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Recent Projects
- Evaluation of OJJDP’s Mentoring Enhancement Demonstration Project
- National Household Education Survey (NHES)
- Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS)
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Recent Products
Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)
The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) is an international comparative study of the reading literacy of young students. PIRLS studies the reading achievement and reading behaviors and attitudes of fourth-grade students in the U.S. and students in the equivalent of fourth grade in other participating countries. AIR’s experts provide analytical support for U.S. participation in PIRLS, including consultation and management support, expert analysis, and technical review of assessment frameworks, field test items, and reports.
Recent Reports
- Teacher Strategies to Help Fourth-Graders Having Difficulty in Reading: An International Perspective
- Comparative Indicators of Education in the United States and Other G-8 Countries: 2009
- The Reading Literacy of U.S. Fourth-Grade Students in an International Context Results From the 2001 and 2006 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)
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Recent Projects
Recent Products
Psychometrics and Standard Setting
AIR is a leading organization in the development of new psychometric techniques. As such, we are able to provide a level of psychometric expertise rarely paralleled in other research institutions. AIR leverages this expertise to provide exceptional measurement quality to high-stakes testing, including assisting our clients to avoid pitfalls in assessment and measurement. Our expertise includes Item Response Theory (IRT) modeling, classical item analysis, Generalizability Theory models, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, setting cut scores and performance standards, sampling design, and efficient pilot- and field-testing procedures.
Recent Reports
Recent Products
Public Health Education
AIR develops public education campaigns and materials on a variety of public health issues, ranging from H1N1 flu, to syphilis and diabetes. AIR education efforts are informed by research, audience-tailored, and culturally-appropriate. Depending on the goals of the client, these efforts may aim to inform targeted audiences, raise general awareness of issues, enlist support from a wider public audience, mobilize communities, and/or change behavior. These efforts are led by staff with advanced degrees in public health or communication and considerable experience in applying the best and latest health communication methodologies and practices to achieve measurable and lasting results.
Recent Reports
- On the Road to Well-Being: The Development of a Communication Framework for Sexual Health
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Recent Projects
- Take the Lead: Working Together to Prepare Now
- Health Information Networks, Clearinghouses, Online Information Systems, Web Sites, Online Product Catalog and Publishing
- Communicating About Pandemic Flu
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Recent Products
Public Health Emergency Preparedness
Clear and accurate communication - communication that motivates people to prepare in advance of a crisis and then take appropriate actions when a public health emergency occurs - is critical to reducing illness and suffering and ultimately saving lives. AIR works with state and federal clients to develop educational materials, messages, training programs, and crisis communication plans. Based on risk communication principles and audience research, AIR’s award-winning work spans a variety of public health emergency topics, including H1N1 flu, pandemic influenza, bioterrorism, and chemical and radiological threats.
Recent Reports
Recent Projects
Publication and Materials Development
AIR designs and produces materials targeted to a wide range of audiences. Publications and materials are developed with client and audience input at every step, taking into account communication goals, literacy issues, and plain language principles to ensure access, comprehension and usage.
Materials designed, produced, and tested with target audiences include print and collateral materials; television, radio, print, and outdoor advertising; exhibits and conference materials; media kits; video documentaries; original music; interactive CDs; and Websites.
Recent Projects
