Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that engages in research and dissemination to inform public and private decision-makers and evidence-based policies and practices to improve the lives of children, youth, and families. Chapin Hall adheres to the values of science, meeting the highest standards of ethics, integrity, rigor, and objectivity in its research, analyses, and reporting.
In all its work, Chapin Hall commits to:
Transparency and Oversight
- Describe clearly and with transparency sources, methods, and findings.
- Protect and ensure the rights of human research participants.
- Seek ethical approval for research activities from the governing Institutional Review Board. Staff apply to and/or register each project with the IRB regarding the determination of research status.
- Solicit internal and external peer review and provide opportunity for feedback on and co-interpretation of our findings before they are considered final.
Rigor and Excellence
- Perform research, policy analysis, implementation, consultation, and associated activities according to the highest standards of our professions.
- Align methods to the population and questions addressed within a study.
Objectivity
- Adhere to the values of science and do not permit third party interests to adversely influence or affect findings and recommendations.
- Acknowledge when there is limited evidence on which to make recommendations.
- Provide evidence to inform policy and action, drawing from the body of knowledge on a given issue or topic but never acting as representatives, lobbyists, advocates, or agents of third parties.
- Act at all times to safeguard and strengthen the integrity, transparency, and independence of Chapin Hall’s research.
- Correct misstatements, misinterpretations, and misrepresentations of our work when they become apparent.