RESEARCH & METHODOLOGY
Our Research Agenda
PSRI's research program is organized around five focus areas and proceeds in structured waves. Each study moves through a six-stage development cycle — from scoping through internal review to publication — designed to ensure that what we publish meets the evidentiary standard we have set for ourselves.
Our first wave of research is in development. Published work will appear on this page, each study accompanied by its data sources and methodology.
Surface →Validate → Activate Model
PSRI PROPRIETARY METHODOLOGY
01
Surface
Early signals are pulled from front-line, often-overlooked sources: complaint logs, caseworker notes, audits, and public data that agencies already collect but rarely connect.
02
Validate
Signals are tested against independent evidence and historical outcomes to separate noise from a genuine early warning.
03
Activate
Validated findings are translated into specific, decision-ready recommendations for the agencies, funders, or legislators positioned to act.
The PSRI Index
The PSRI Index, currently in development. It is one instrument within PSRI’s broader agenda, focused on program delivery — the dimension of public service most readily measured against the public record. The index is being constructed following the OECD–JRC Handbook on Constructing Composite Indicators, the internationally recognized standard for composite measurement.
Evidentiary Standards
PSRI publishes only what it can source. Our evidentiary base is limited to:
Government oversight and audit institutions: GAO, CRS, CBO, and agency inspectors general
Official agency data and public records
Peer-reviewed scholarship
Constructed or derived figures are published only with their full derivation documented. Where the evidence is incomplete, we say so.