Just Google it: Measuring schools' use of research evidence with internet search results.

Abstract

Measuring the use of research evidence (URE) by schools has become a central of education researchers. However, it has proven challenging due to low response rates, social desirability bias, and costly or time consuming data collection methods. To overcome these challenges and meet the needs of research focused on URE, this paper introduces a non-reactive archival measure: Archival Search of Use of Research Evidence (ASURE). ASURE counts references to research or evidence on a school's or school district's website to capture the extent of its rhetorical use of research evidence. After illustrating the collection of ASURE in all public school districts in Michigan (N = 595), we use data on these districts to show that ASURE is reliable and valid, and thus offers a promising new strategy for measuring URE in schools. We conclude by considering future steps for exploring ASURE not simply as a measure of URE in schools, but instead as a measurement strategy for assessing URE in a broad range of organizational contexts.