WestEd Research Services

These are just a sample of the research studies and services that WestEd provides to EdTech companies. WestEd will work with you to customize these services to meet your needs and achieve your research goals.

Literature Review

Focus Group

User Surveys and Interviews

Subject Matter Expert Reviews

Enhanced Usability

Implementation Study

White Paper or Scholarly Article

Classroom Feasibility Study

Quasi-Experimental Design Study

Needs Assessment

Secondary Data Analysis

Randomized Controlled Trial

A Framework for Research

WestEd offers research services for EdTech products at any stage of development. Our Research Continuum shows how research studies can build to establish an evidence base, and our Logic Model Framework shows how a logic model can be used to develop a research plan.

Research Continuum

Formative to summative

Formative to Summative

Arrow graphic illustrating the research continuum moving from formative actionable feedback on the left to summative evidence of outcomes on the right. Usability, feasibility, pre-post, correlational, quasi-experimental, and randomized control are compartments on the arrow displayed from left to right in a blue to green gradient.

Logic Model

Logic Model and corresponding Research Studies

Logic Model

Chart graphic of the logic model with columns labeled inputs, activities, outputs, short-term outcomes, and long-term outcomes ordered from left to right. The first row is labeled logic model components and second row is labeled corresponding research studies. The input assumptions about the product's users and functionality corresponds to needs assessments, focus groups, and expert reviews. The activity user interaction with the product corresponds to usability and feasibility tests. The output immediately observable effects of using the product as attended corresponds to implementation studies. The outcomes short-term learning and behavior changes that occur after using product and long-term impact on learning and behaviors corresponds with quasi-experimental studies and randomized control trials.

Kao, Y., Matlen, B.J., Tiu, M., & Li, L. (2017). Logic models as a framework for iterative user research in educational technology: Illustrative cases. In R.D. Roscoe, S.D. Craig, & S.C. Douglas (Eds.), End-User Considerations in Educational Technology Design. Hershey, PA: IGI Global.