Presenter: Pam Buckley

Abstract: Evidence-based decision-making applies existing evidence to inform social policies and involves integrating relevant information from various sources, such as experimental studies and community feedback. Online clearinghouses support evidence-based decision-making by synthesizing evidence on what works, though manually updating literature is incomplete. In addition, passively summarizing evaluations is insufficient for end-users to implement preventive solutions that achieve population impacts. A two-part conceptual framework developed in partnership with the National Prevention Science Coalition to Save Lives is proposed for a clearinghouse platform that integrates stepwise, interactive, AI-driven capabilities safeguarded by human touchpoints to mitigate unintended AI consequences such as biases and inaccuracies. First, clearinghouses should adopt a “living” systematic review, in which evaluations are automatically updated—an approach embraced globally by organizations such as the World Health Organization, Cochrane Collaboration, and the U.N.’s Pan American Health Organization. The second component involves adding a chatbot to support assessment and implementation guidance and make recommendations on (1) the provision of all evidence-based preventive interventions (EBPIs) and their key activities, (2) EBPIs shown to achieve equitably distributed outcomes, (3) culturally relevant EBPIs that align with the values and needs of a target population, (4) implementation support, such as materials, training, and fidelity measures, and (5) delivery costs. The resulting platform will ethically expedite the translational process of identifying and scaling EBPIs, leading to a more complete, comprehensive, and accessible body of evidence on effective preventive strategies.

Bio: My scholarship focuses on robust research methods used to create and disseminate evidence about preventive interventions for children, youth and families. I am particularly interested in (1) ways preventive programs act on risk and protective factors to mitigate consequences of problem behaviors but more importantly avert the occurrence of problem behaviors in the first place, and (2) building infrastructure to scale and sustain evidence based preventive interventions. I am also focused on methods for synthesizing evidence, which increases the quality of scientific evidence by studying how research is done and how it can be improved. I received the 2023 Society for Prevention Research Nan Tobler Award for my contributions to the summarization or articulation of the empirical evidence relevant to the prevention science field. As a former school psychologist, I also have considerable experience consulting in classrooms with teachers, students, families, and communities.

Sponsored By IBS' Prevention Science Program