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Methodology

With RAPID’s high-frequency approach, survey contents can be adapted quickly to assess caregivers’ experiences in response to policies and events.

Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, RAPID subsequently evolved into a platform that gathers actionable data to advance science and inform data-driven, evidence-based early childhood policy, practice, and systems. Get a detailed look at RAPID’s survey methodology: The RAPID Survey: An Innovative Tool for Elevating Parent and Provider Voices in Early Childhood.

Dynamic Survey Tool

Our innovative approach allows us to revise and add to the survey in an ongoing manner. As circumstances during the pandemic have continued to evolve for families, child care providers and communities, we have adapted the survey to collect data on those changing circumstances in near real-time. Our core questions focus on emotional well-being, experiences of material hardship, access to and use of child care, and use of preventive health care. We add content to these core items through topical modules. We receive input and guidance on new content from our National Advisory Council, Policy Working Group, collaborators, and participants themselves.

Data Analysis & Review

Once the surveys are collected, our team analyzes the data for insights into the topics of the month as well as areas of ongoing interest. A review group made up of university-affiliated developmental psychologists reviews all analysis and results for accuracy. Our National Advisory Council then advises on the interpretation of the data and our communication of the findings. The RAPID project overall is reviewed by a Data Audit Team comprised of survey research methodologists and other researchers.

Survey Methodology

The RAPID data we collect spans from large national projects to smaller community projects that employ frequent online surveys to examine how U.S. households and child care providers are being impacted by various socio-economic factors, environmental changes, and shifts in public policies. All study procedures are approved by the Stanford University Institutional Review Board, which oversees human subjects research ethics for all studies conducted at the University. Our primary participant recruitment strategy is through partnerships with family- and workforce-facing organizations, as well as email listservs (e.g., ParentsTogether) and some social media ads (e.g., Facebook).

Our projects include two types of surveys: the initial recruitment surveys and the ongoing assessment surveys. Participants who are interested in the study are first invited to fill out the initial recruitment survey to determine eligibility, provide consent (if eligible), and answer an initial series of questions. For the household survey, eligibility criteria for the responding parent or guardian include being 18 years or older, being a primary caregiver of a child under six years old, being fluent in English and/or Spanish, and living in the U.S. Eligible and consented parents were then entered into the participant pool. For the provider survey, eligibility criteria include being 18 years or older, being a child care provider who takes care of one or more children under age six (who is not their own child), being fluent in English and/or Spanish, and living in the U.S. In order to be eligible for both the household and provider surveys, the participant must consent to being recontacted for ongoing assessment surveys.