Tufts Interdisciplinary Evaluation Research (TIER) is an applied research and evaluation lab housed in the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development at Tufts University. TIER comprises faculty, research staff, students, and community members committed to conducting high-quality, collaborative research and evaluation studies aimed at improving policies and programs for children, families, and communities. TIER conducts “real world” evaluations of complex, multifaceted programs using innovative mixed methods designs to answer research questions from various angles, generate a deeper understanding of the community and policy contexts in which programs operate, and illuminate how larger structural forces affect people and organizations on the ground.
TIER has extensive experience conducting studies focused on maternal and child health policies and programs, home visiting and other family support programs, public health initiatives, and early childhood systems. Our studies encompass both the developmental trajectories of children and families and the multiple contexts—programs, communities, policies, societal structures—that influence these trajectories.
We collaborate closely with programs and policymakers to find the “best fit” evaluation for their purposes, and to ensure that the methods we choose yield meaningful and actionable findings. TIER places high value on authentic community engagement and has trained and partnered with over 50 community members to be evaluators or advisors on our projects. We maintain a social justice stance in our work, and are committed to supporting programs, families, and each other as we collectively strive to contribute to and promote equitable and thriving communities.
Since 1997, TIER’s work has been funded and contracted by a broad range of constituencies, including federal and state agencies, foundations, and community-based organizations. TIER’s projects fit under four broad categories. Click on the links below to learn about each of them.