Regression modelQuasi-experimental / causal inference

Regression Discontinuity Design in Education Research

Regression discontinuity design (RDD) in education research exploits a score-based eligibility cutoff — such as a test score threshold, GPA requirement, or age cutoff — to estimate the causal effect of a program, intervention, or policy on student or school outcomes. Units just below and just above the cutoff are treated as near-randomly assigned, enabling credible causal inference without a randomized trial.

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Sources

  1. Lee, D. S., & Lemieux, T. (2010). Regression discontinuity designs in economics. Journal of Economic Literature, 48(2), 281-355. DOI: 10.1257/jel.48.2.281
  2. Thistlethwaite, D. L., & Campbell, D. T. (1960). Regression-discontinuity analysis: An alternative to the ex post facto experiment. Journal of Educational Psychology, 51(6), 309-317. DOI: 10.1037/h0044319

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ScholarGateRegression discontinuity design in education research (Regression Discontinuity Design in Education Research). Retrieved 2026-06-04 from https://scholargate.app/en/causal-inference/regression-discontinuity-design-in-education-research