Methodological Issues in Research on the Sustainable Development of the Next Generation

Sophisticated analysis of large datasets from UN organizations, government registries, and large within- and between-country studies can provides practitioners and policy makers with information about what programs and practices are effective for whom. Use of research methods that address issues of internal and external validity in creating and evaluating programs and practices will play a critical role in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals for all children. This chapter briefly describes various methodological approaches and their implications, using examples from the study of the impacts of child care and early education to illustrate how the methods can useful in addressing an important issue for sustainable development.