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Innovate Advance the Science of Scaling

Real-World Application of Scaling

Unsuccessful attempts at scaling seemingly promising programs can lead to a vast waste of resources, a missed opportunity to improve people’s lives, and a diminution in the public’s trust in the role of science in the policymaking process.

For these reasons, everyone stands to benefit from a better understanding of scaling. Researchers who apply the science of scaling when crafting their research designs will produce results that are more useful in the real world and ultimately more impactful. Policymakers who evaluate programs and policies through the lens of the science of scaling will adopt those that are more likely to scale up effectively in their local context, producing better outcomes for their constituents, and, as a result, likely benefitting electorally. Members of the public will, of course, reap benefits in the form of more effective (and cost-effective) public policies.

This is why we are committed to pursuing projects, publishing analyses, and hosting events that help generate greater understanding of scaling in real-world contexts. You can explore these projects below.

Resources

Book The Scale-Up Effect in Early Childhood and Public Policy: Why Interventions Lose Impact at Scale and What We Can Do About It

This critical volume combines theoretical and empirical work across disciplines to explore what threatens scalability—and what enables it—in the early childhood field.

Event Recording The next frontier in evidence-based policymaking: The science of scaling

On June 17, Governance Studies at Brookings and the University of Chicago’s TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health and Griffin Applied Economics Incubator cohosted a discussion among experts to help unpack scalability in policymaking.

Video The Scale Up Effect

This animated video illustrates why an intervention might have less of an impact when it is scaled-up from a research setting to the real world.

Video Griffin Applied Economics Incubator Interview - Anya Samek

Professor Anya Samek of the University of Southern California visits the Griffin Applied Economics Incubator at the University of Chicago and discusses the science of scaling in early childhood.

Video Griffin Applied Economics Incubator Interview - Drew Bailey

Professor Drew Bailey of the University of California, Irvine visits the Griffin Applied Economics Incubator at the University of Chicago and discusses the science of scaling in early childhood.

Video Griffin Applied Economics Incubator Interview - Elizabeth Spelke

Professor Elizabeth Spelke of Harvard University visits the Griffin Applied Economics Incubator at the University of Chicago and discusses the science of scaling in early childhood.

Video Griffin Applied Economics Incubator Interview - Kjell Salvanes

Professor Kjell Salvanes of the Norwegian School of Economics visits the Griffin Applied Economics Incubator at the University of Chicago and discusses the science of scaling in early childhood.

Video Griffin Applied Economics Incubator Interview - Scott McConnell

Professor Scott McConnell of the University of Minnesota visits the Griffin Applied Economics Incubator at the University of Chicago and discusses the science of scaling in early childhood.

Video Griffin Applied Economics Incubator Interview - Zacharias Maniadis

Professor Zacharias Maniadis of the University of Southampton visits the Griffin Applied Economics Incubator at the University of Chicago and discusses the science of scaling in early childhood.