The Real Failure Happens Before Analysis Most research projects do not fail at the analysis stage. They fail much earlier—at the indicator design stage. When “impact” lacks an operational definition, it cannot be measured. If it cannot be measured, it cannot be attributed. If it cannot be attributed, it cannot survive peer review, audits, or … Read more
Why Timing Determines Policy Truth Policy effects unfold over time. Yet many evaluations assume impact appears instantly. This mismatch creates time horizon bias. When researchers measure outcomes before policies mature, they report null or negative effects. When they measure too late, effects blend with unrelated shocks. Reviewers then conclude: you measured the wrong effect at … Read more
Aggregated data often simplifies complex realities into a single number, such as a national poverty rate, an average test score, or a district-level health indicator. While these summaries support fast reporting, they also conceal inequality, mute vulnerability, and distort policy decisions. Policymakers, donors, and researchers frequently rely on aggregated indicators without examining underlying distributions. As … Read more
Policy briefs are among the most widely used tools in evidence-informed policymaking. They aim to translate complex research into actionable insights for decision-makers. However, despite their popularity, many briefs fail to produce meaningful policy influence. The issue is not poor writing or insufficient data. It is the absence of a solid analytical foundation—the middle layer. … Read more
