Author: Jessica Sperling, Ph.D. Published in 2018 Impact Report.

Jessica Sperling, Ph.D., led the Evaluation & Engagement area at the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI). Dr. Sperling worked with DIHI to design evaluation methodologies that became integral to the success and scaling of DIHI innovation projects. Through systematic and empirical investigation, Dr. Sperling designed evaluation and measurement processes that gauged implementation and/or progression towards intended outcomes and used this information to inform project development.  Dr. Sperling partnered with DIHI to provide measurement and evaluation expertise to several of DIHI’s pilot innovation projects.

In addition, SSRI and DIHI collaborated to offer an undergraduate Social Science Research Lab program – an SSRI-based curricular program that provided students with applied experience in social science research methods. With DIHI’s Will ElLaissi, Dr. Sperling developed and led the course, “Evaluating Health Innovation,” which afforded students the opportunity to develop, pitch, and implement evaluation study designs with select DIHI innovation project partners. The partnership with SSRI and DIHI objectives provided students with diverse, unique educational opportunities to engage in real and relevant innovation projects, progressing efforts at Duke to meaningfully align the social and health sciences.