Research opportunities: Three new invitations to tender

TASO invites expressions of interest from higher education providers (HEPs) for three invitations to tender (ITT).

Applications are now closed. Research project one As TASO works to support the sector with the use of large-scale quantitative methods, including experimental and quasi-experimental research, we feel it is equally important to support the sector to navigate the ethics and data compliance that comes with using these methods. Therefore, this project aims to provide standardised guidance on common ethical considerations and best practice relating to such methods. ITT: Ethics for field research on widening participation and student success Activities that we expect to be included within the scope of this project:

Consultation with other What Works Centres, widening participation (WP)/student success practitioners and evaluators, and TASO advisory groups to support the research and seek consensus for the approach and type of guidance they require. We welcome ideas for how to conduct the consultation phase as part of the application process.
Review existing literature, knowledge, guidance and policies concerned with the ethics of implementing large-scale quantitative data collection and analysis; experimental and quasi-experimental research methods; administrative data set analysis; qualitative interviews; focus groups; and observations.
Establish the remit and target audience of the ethics guidance produced as a result of this project, outlining how WP teams should follow the guide.

For more information, including how to apply, download project one brief. Research projects two and three At the heart of impact evaluation is the requirement to link cause and effect, to explain how and why activities lead to changes in outcomes of interest. While experimental and quasi-experimental evaluation methods can provide the sector with the confidence required to be able to state causal inference, it’s not always possible to use these methods. Therefore, both projects below aim to address the difficult methodological and theoretical challenges faced by HEPs wishing to evaluate the impact of widening participation and student success activities with small cohorts. This project is split into three phases and will be subcontracted to two separate suppliers – with one supplier being awarded the consultation and translation and testing phases and the second supplier being awarded the methodology phase. ITT: Evaluation with small cohorts: consultation, translation, and piloting Activities that we expect to be included within the scope of this project:

Consultation with small and specialist providers, other What Works centres (WWCs) and their advisory boards, academic experts, the wider sector, including TASO’s advisory groups and students. We welcome ideas for how to conduct the consultation phase as part of the application process.
Translation and testing pilot small n evaluation design and methods with small and specialist providers. The pilot is to include a collaborative approach, pooling resources from separate providers to test collaborative working as a solution to the resource challenge often experienced. This may involve changing the outcomes of interest to reduce competition between providers.
Also pilot with individual providers: At least 3 – 5 small providers At least 3 – 5 larger providers working with small cohorts
Test the feasibility of providing transferable methodological practice guidance to multiple specialist providers with a unique focus.
Design and deliver practical guidance for HE providers, illustrating how to operationalise findings from the translation and testing phase.

For more information, including how to apply, download project two brief. ITT: Evaluation with small cohorts: methods guidance Activities that we expect to be included within the scope of this project:

Review and select the most suitable alternative designs and methods for small n impact evaluation.
Methods that strongly support causal inference to be prioritised.
Provide recommendations for combining designs and methods to strengthen causal claims, when necessary.
Provide guidance on mixing methods and implementation and process evaluation for such methods.

The successful supplier will work independently to complete this discrete project phase but will also be required to inform and advise another supplier delivering translation and test phase, based on findings and outputs produced. For more information, including how to apply, download project three brief. Deadline:  Applications are now closed.You will be informed of the outcome of your application by the 22nd of March 2021. If you have any queries about the project or application process, email rain.sherlock@kcl.ac.uk.

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Research opportunities: Three new invitations to tender