The Johns Hopkins Center on Global Poverty supports research using qualitative methods to tackle complex challenges in international development. Current practices in international development often emphasize randomized controlled trials (RCTs), but RCTs have notable limitations. They overlook factors that cannot be randomized, make unproven assumptions about policymakers’ responsiveness to evidence, and fail to reveal the underlying mechanisms that determine the success or failure of development programs.
Our mission is to fill these critical gaps by fostering qualitative research. For example, we support research that:
- Conducts historical process tracing to evaluate causal mechanisms beyond the scope of randomization
- Explores policymaking dynamics through qualitative methodologies
- Uses ethnographic approaches to uncover how and why initiatives succeed or fail
Our work aims to reshape the research landscape in international development. As a newly established center (launched in Fall 2024), we are poised for growth and innovation— now is the perfect time to join us on this journey.
Stay tuned as we expand our efforts and share updates on our several exciting new initiatives in the coming weeks and months. Together, we can redefine development research and policymaking and devise new solutions for global poverty.