Max Crowley is a prevention scientist investigating how to optimize investments in healthy development and well-being. This work sits at the intersection of social policy, prevention science and public finance. His program of research is motivated by a desire to increase the use of cost-effective, evidence-based preventive strategies to improve the lives of children and families. To accomplish this, his work aims to:
- strengthen methods for benefit-cost analyses of preventive interventions;
- optimize prevention strategies’ impact; and
- develop best practices for how to translate these investments into evidence-based policy.
In this manner, he seeks to not only understand the costs and benefits of prevention, but aims to develop better interventions and encourage them to be disseminated widely.
His research is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institute of Child Health & Human Development and National Institute on Aging as well as the Robert Wood Johnson, Laura & John Arnold, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Michael and Susan Dell and Doris Duke Charitable Foundations.
He is accepting graduate students and postdoctoral trainees for the upcoming academic year.
I am deeply passionate about considering how we make investments in children and families in a way that is rigorous, effective, and potent -- and also efficient -- recognizing that we are using public resources.
- Max Crowley
Contact Information
219 HHD Building
University Park, PA 16802
dmc397@psu.edu
Preferred pronouns:
Associated Lab(s)
Max Crowley is a prevention scientist investigating how to optimize investments in healthy development and well-being. This work sits at the intersection of social policy, prevention science and public finance. His program of research is motivated by a desire to increase the use of cost-effective, evidence-based preventive strategies to improve the lives of children and families. To accomplish this, his work aims to:
- strengthen methods for benefit-cost analyses of preventive interventions;
- optimize prevention strategies’ impact; and
- develop best practices for how to translate these investments into evidence-based policy.
In this manner, he seeks to not only understand the costs and benefits of prevention, but aims to develop better interventions and encourage them to be disseminated widely.
His research is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institute of Child Health & Human Development and National Institute on Aging as well as the Robert Wood Johnson, Laura & John Arnold, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Michael and Susan Dell and Doris Duke Charitable Foundations.
He is accepting graduate students and postdoctoral trainees for the upcoming academic year.
I am deeply passionate about considering how we make investments in children and families in a way that is rigorous, effective, and potent -- and also efficient -- recognizing that we are using public resources.
- Max Crowley
Contact Information
219 HHD Building
University Park, PA 16802
dmc397@psu.edu
Preferred pronouns:
Associated Lab(s)
Research-to-Policy Collaboration 
Supporting Effective Entrepreneurship Policy 
Exploring Legislative Frameworks for Leveraging and Measuring Research Use 
Mobilizing First Mover Capital to Catalyze Venture Investment in Minority Entrepreneurs 
Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center Data Infrastructure Development 
Unlocking Female Potential: Opening Doors for Women Entrepreneurs 
Testing Research Strategies and Impact among Policymakers to Reduce Inequalities Precipitated by COVID-19 
Testing Science Communication Strategies and Impact among Policymakers During a National Crisis 
Impact of the Research-to-Collaboration Model: Testing an Approach to Improve the Use of Research Evidence 
A Novel Pregnancy Prevention Intervention for Latina Middle School Girls 
A Low-Cost RCT for Evaluating the Impact of a Universal Substance Abuse Prevention Model on the Medicaid System 
Continuous Quality Improvement of the Pennsylvania Coordinated Medication-Assisted Treatment (PacMAT) Program: Phase 1 
Early Life Stress and the Environmental Origins of Disease: A Population-based Prospective Longitudinal Study of Children in Rural Poverty (Family Life Project) (ECHO) 
Optimizing Prevention of Costly Adult Outcomes 
Support Low-Cost Randomized Controlled Trial of Prevention Program Impact on Medicaid Burden
New Penn State program pairs researchers with lawmakers to support small businesses 
Bills with research language more likely to advance through legislative process 
Researchers analyze costs of child sexual abuse prevention programs 
Advancing the relevance of research to policymakers during times of crisis 
Venture Equity Project aims to remove barriers for entrepreneurs of color 
Social science policy and communication strategies workshop coming Feb. 21 
How can body weight affect the mortality risk of excessive drinkers? 
Getting racial equity research into the hands of policymakers 
New survey measures the role of science in U.S. Congress 
Helping Congress get the most from research 
New Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center partnership tackles access and equity 
Despite advances, behavioral health legislation still lags behind 
Penn State-led national coalition bringing prevention science to life 
Penn State researcher receives federal grant to study early learning program 
New behavioral intervention aims to improve research-to-policy translation 
Portland State, Penn State partners on $3.3 million grant to study impact of kindergarten readiness program 
Penn State delegation advocates for social sciences in Washington, DC
- Trends and opportunities for bridging prevention science and US federal policy
Scott, J.T., Prendergast, S., Demeusy, E., McGuire, K., & Crowley, M. (2022). Prevention Science, 23, 1333-1342.
- Taking a school-based child sexual abuse prevention program to scale: A cost analysis
Shipe, S. L., Guastaferro, K., Noll, J. G., Connell, C. M., Morgan, P. L., & Crowley, D. M. (2022). Prevention Science.
- How substance use prevention research gets used in United States federal policy
Long, E. C., Scott, J. T., Craig, L. E., Prendergast, S., Pugel, J., & Crowley, D. M. (2022). Addiction, 117(8), 2235-2241.
- Cultivating researcher-policymaker partnerships: A randomized controlled trial of a model for training public psychologists
Crowley, D. M., Scott, J. T., Long, E. C., Green, L., Giray, C., Gay, B., Israel, A., Storace, R., McCauley, M., & Donovan, M. (2021). American Psychologist, 76(8), 1307-1322.
- Legislating to prevent adverse childhood experiences: Growth and opportunities for evidence-based policymaking and prevention
Crowley, D.M., Connell, C.M., Noll, J., Green, L., Scott, T., Giray, C. (2021).Prevention Science. Advance online publication.
- Rapid-cycle experimentation with state and federal policymakers for optimizing the reach of racial equity research
, D.M. (2021). American Journal of Public Health. Advance online publication.
- A new measure to understand the role of science in U.S. Congress: Lessons learned from the Legislative Use of Research Survey (LURS)
Long, E.C., Smith, R.L., Scott, J.T., Gay, B., Giray, C., Storace, R., Guillot-Wright, S., & Crowley, D.M. (2021).Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice. Advance online publication.
- Lawmakers' use of scientific evidence can be improved
Crowley, D. M., Scott, J. T., Long, E. C., Green, L., Israel, A., Supplee, L., Jordan, E., Oliver, K., Guillot-Wright, S., Gay, B., Storace, R., Torres-Mackie, N., Murphy, Y., Donnay, S., Reardanz, J., Smith, R., McGuire, K., Baker, E., Antonopoulos, A., McCauley, M. & Giray, C. (2021). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(9), e2012955118.
- Early physical abuse and adult outcomes
Lansford, J.E., Godwin, J., McMahon, R.J., Crowley, D.M., Petit, G.S., Bates, J.E., Coie, J.D., & Dodge, K.A. (2021). Pediatrics. 147(1). Article e20200873.
- Supporting strategic investment in social programs: A cost analysis of the Family Check-Up
Kuklinski, M. R., Crowley, D. M., Dishion, T. J., Wilson, M. N., Pelham III, W. E., & Shaw, D. S. (2020).Prevention Science, 21, 256-267.
- Evidence‐based human trafficking policy: Opportunities to invest in trauma‐informed strategies
Scott, J. T., Ingram, A. M., Nemer, S. L., & Crowley, D. M. (2019). American Journal of Community Psychology, 64(3-4), 348–358.
- Important issues in estimating costs of early childhood educational interventions: An example from the REDI program
Jones, D. E., Bierman, K., Crowley, D. M., Welsh, J., & Gest, J. (2019). Child and Family Services Review, 207, 104498.
- Standards of evidence for conducting and reporting economic evaluations in prevention science
Crowley, M., Dodge, K., Barnett, S., Corso, P., Duffy, S., Graham, P., Greenberg, M., Hill, L., Haskins, R., Jones, D., Karoly, L., Kuklinski, M., & Plotnick, R. (2018). Prevention Science, 19(3), 366-390.
- At what cost? Examining the cost-effectiveness of a universal social-emotional learning program.
Hunter, L., Diperna, J., Hart, S., & Crowley, M. (2018). Social Psychology Quarterly, 33(1), 147-154.
- Fostering healthier environments for children and families
“Crowley, M., Haskins, R., Howard, E., & Ness, D. (2017). Fostering healthier environments for children and families. In P. Alonzo (Ed.), Knowledge to action: Accelerating a culture of health. Oxford University Press.”
- Improving the social emotional skills in childhood enhances long-term well-being and economic outcomes
Jones, D., Crowley, D. M., & Greenberg, M. T. (2017). University Park, PA: Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University.
- A framework for valuing investments in a nurturing society: Implications for prevention research and evidence-based policy
Crowley, D. M., & Jones, D. E. (2017).Child Clinical and Family Psychology Review, 20(1), 87-103. PMCID: PMC5396060
- Valuing our communities: Ethical considerations for economic evaluation of community-based prevention
Crowley, D. M., & Jones, D. E. (2017). American Journal of Community Psychology, 60(3-4), 309-315. PMCID: PMC5729092
- Bringing rigor to the use of evidence in policymaking: Translating early evidence
Crowley, D. M., & Scott, T. (2017). Public Administration Review, 77(5), 650-655. https://doi.org/10.1111.puar.12830
- Translating prevention research for evidence-based policymaking: Results from the Research-to-Policy Collaboration pilot
Crowley, D. M., Scott, T., & Fishbein, D. (2017). Prevention Science, 19(2), 260-270. PMCID: PMC5803346
- The economics of social capital: Considering the fiscal value of social networks
Crowley, M., & Green, L. (2016). The economics of social capital: Considering the fiscal value of social networks. In A. Greenberg, T. Gullotta, & M. Bloom (Eds.), Promoting civic health of communities through social capital (pp. 101-118). Springer Publishing.
- Financing prevention: Opportunities for economic analysis across the translational research cycle.
Crowley, M., & Jones, D. (2016). Translational Behavioral Medicine, 6(1), 145-152.
- Advancing the power of economic evidence to inform investments in children, youth, and families
Basurto-Davila, R., Brooks-Gunn, J., Brooks, J., Chow, B., Corso, P., Crowley, D. M., Fitzpatrick, J., Karoly, L., Kuklinski, M., Nugent, R., Acosta-Price, O., Miller, T., Sheridan, A., Steurle, E., & Jackson, L. (2016). Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
- The power of a collaborative relationship between technical assistance providers and community prevention teams: A correlational and longitudinal study
Chilenski, S., Perkins, D. F., Olson, J. R., Hoffman, L., Feinberg, M. E., Greenberg, M. T., Welsh, J. A., Crowley, D. M., & Spoth, R. L. (2016). Evaluation and Program Planning, 54(1), 19-29.
- Considering valuation of noncognitive skills in benefit-cost analysis of programs for children
Jones, D. E., Karoly, L. A., Crowley, M., & Greenberg, M. T. (2016). Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis, 6(3), 471-507.
- Early social-emotional functioning and public health: The relationship between kindergarten social competence and future wellness
Jones, D., Greenberg, M., & Crowley, M. (2015). American Journal of Public Health, 105(11), 22832290.
- The role of social impact bonds in pediatric care
Crowley, M. (2014). Pediatrics, 134(2), 331-333.
- Can we build an efficient response to the prescription drug abuse epidemic? Assessing the cost-effectiveness of universal prevention
Crowley, M., Jones, D. E., Greenberg, M. T., Coffman, D., & Spoth, R. (2014). Preventive Medicine, 62, 71-77.
- Research-to-Policy Collaboration
- Supporting Effective Entrepreneurship Policy
- Exploring Legislative Frameworks for Leveraging and Measuring Research Use
- Mobilizing First Mover Capital to Catalyze Venture Investment in Minority Entrepreneurs
- Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center Data Infrastructure Development
- Unlocking Female Potential: Opening Doors for Women Entrepreneurs
- Testing Research Strategies and Impact among Policymakers to Reduce Inequalities Precipitated by COVID-19
- Testing Science Communication Strategies and Impact among Policymakers During a National Crisis
- Impact of the Research-to-Collaboration Model: Testing an Approach to Improve the Use of Research Evidence
- A Novel Pregnancy Prevention Intervention for Latina Middle School Girls
- A Low-Cost RCT for Evaluating the Impact of a Universal Substance Abuse Prevention Model on the Medicaid System
- Continuous Quality Improvement of the Pennsylvania Coordinated Medication-Assisted Treatment (PacMAT) Program: Phase 1
- Early Life Stress and the Environmental Origins of Disease: A Population-based Prospective Longitudinal Study of Children in Rural Poverty (Family Life Project) (ECHO)
- Optimizing Prevention of Costly Adult Outcomes
- Support Low-Cost Randomized Controlled Trial of Prevention Program Impact on Medicaid Burden
- New Penn State program pairs researchers with lawmakers to support small businesses
- Bills with research language more likely to advance through legislative process
- Researchers analyze costs of child sexual abuse prevention programs
- Advancing the relevance of research to policymakers during times of crisis
- Venture Equity Project aims to remove barriers for entrepreneurs of color
- Social science policy and communication strategies workshop coming Feb. 21
- How can body weight affect the mortality risk of excessive drinkers?
- Getting racial equity research into the hands of policymakers
- New survey measures the role of science in U.S. Congress
- Helping Congress get the most from research
- New Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center partnership tackles access and equity
- Despite advances, behavioral health legislation still lags behind
- Penn State-led national coalition bringing prevention science to life
- Penn State researcher receives federal grant to study early learning program
- New behavioral intervention aims to improve research-to-policy translation
- Portland State, Penn State partners on $3.3 million grant to study impact of kindergarten readiness program
- Penn State delegation advocates for social sciences in Washington, DC
- Trends and opportunities for bridging prevention science and US federal policy
Scott, J.T., Prendergast, S., Demeusy, E., McGuire, K., & Crowley, M. (2022). Prevention Science, 23, 1333-1342.
- Taking a school-based child sexual abuse prevention program to scale: A cost analysis
Shipe, S. L., Guastaferro, K., Noll, J. G., Connell, C. M., Morgan, P. L., & Crowley, D. M. (2022). Prevention Science.
- How substance use prevention research gets used in United States federal policy
Long, E. C., Scott, J. T., Craig, L. E., Prendergast, S., Pugel, J., & Crowley, D. M. (2022). Addiction, 117(8), 2235-2241.
- Cultivating researcher-policymaker partnerships: A randomized controlled trial of a model for training public psychologists
Crowley, D. M., Scott, J. T., Long, E. C., Green, L., Giray, C., Gay, B., Israel, A., Storace, R., McCauley, M., & Donovan, M. (2021). American Psychologist, 76(8), 1307-1322.
- Legislating to prevent adverse childhood experiences: Growth and opportunities for evidence-based policymaking and prevention
Crowley, D.M., Connell, C.M., Noll, J., Green, L., Scott, T., Giray, C. (2021).Prevention Science. Advance online publication.
- Rapid-cycle experimentation with state and federal policymakers for optimizing the reach of racial equity research
, D.M. (2021). American Journal of Public Health. Advance online publication.
- A new measure to understand the role of science in U.S. Congress: Lessons learned from the Legislative Use of Research Survey (LURS)
Long, E.C., Smith, R.L., Scott, J.T., Gay, B., Giray, C., Storace, R., Guillot-Wright, S., & Crowley, D.M. (2021).Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice. Advance online publication.
- Lawmakers' use of scientific evidence can be improved
Crowley, D. M., Scott, J. T., Long, E. C., Green, L., Israel, A., Supplee, L., Jordan, E., Oliver, K., Guillot-Wright, S., Gay, B., Storace, R., Torres-Mackie, N., Murphy, Y., Donnay, S., Reardanz, J., Smith, R., McGuire, K., Baker, E., Antonopoulos, A., McCauley, M. & Giray, C. (2021). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(9), e2012955118.
- Early physical abuse and adult outcomes
Lansford, J.E., Godwin, J., McMahon, R.J., Crowley, D.M., Petit, G.S., Bates, J.E., Coie, J.D., & Dodge, K.A. (2021). Pediatrics. 147(1). Article e20200873.
- Supporting strategic investment in social programs: A cost analysis of the Family Check-Up
Kuklinski, M. R., Crowley, D. M., Dishion, T. J., Wilson, M. N., Pelham III, W. E., & Shaw, D. S. (2020).Prevention Science, 21, 256-267.
- Evidence‐based human trafficking policy: Opportunities to invest in trauma‐informed strategies
Scott, J. T., Ingram, A. M., Nemer, S. L., & Crowley, D. M. (2019). American Journal of Community Psychology, 64(3-4), 348–358.
- Important issues in estimating costs of early childhood educational interventions: An example from the REDI program
Jones, D. E., Bierman, K., Crowley, D. M., Welsh, J., & Gest, J. (2019). Child and Family Services Review, 207, 104498.
- Standards of evidence for conducting and reporting economic evaluations in prevention science
Crowley, M., Dodge, K., Barnett, S., Corso, P., Duffy, S., Graham, P., Greenberg, M., Hill, L., Haskins, R., Jones, D., Karoly, L., Kuklinski, M., & Plotnick, R. (2018). Prevention Science, 19(3), 366-390.
- At what cost? Examining the cost-effectiveness of a universal social-emotional learning program.
Hunter, L., Diperna, J., Hart, S., & Crowley, M. (2018). Social Psychology Quarterly, 33(1), 147-154.
- Fostering healthier environments for children and families
“Crowley, M., Haskins, R., Howard, E., & Ness, D. (2017). Fostering healthier environments for children and families. In P. Alonzo (Ed.), Knowledge to action: Accelerating a culture of health. Oxford University Press.”
- Improving the social emotional skills in childhood enhances long-term well-being and economic outcomes
Jones, D., Crowley, D. M., & Greenberg, M. T. (2017). University Park, PA: Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University.
- A framework for valuing investments in a nurturing society: Implications for prevention research and evidence-based policy
Crowley, D. M., & Jones, D. E. (2017).Child Clinical and Family Psychology Review, 20(1), 87-103. PMCID: PMC5396060
- Valuing our communities: Ethical considerations for economic evaluation of community-based prevention
Crowley, D. M., & Jones, D. E. (2017). American Journal of Community Psychology, 60(3-4), 309-315. PMCID: PMC5729092
- Bringing rigor to the use of evidence in policymaking: Translating early evidence
Crowley, D. M., & Scott, T. (2017). Public Administration Review, 77(5), 650-655. https://doi.org/10.1111.puar.12830
- Translating prevention research for evidence-based policymaking: Results from the Research-to-Policy Collaboration pilot
Crowley, D. M., Scott, T., & Fishbein, D. (2017). Prevention Science, 19(2), 260-270. PMCID: PMC5803346
- The economics of social capital: Considering the fiscal value of social networks
Crowley, M., & Green, L. (2016). The economics of social capital: Considering the fiscal value of social networks. In A. Greenberg, T. Gullotta, & M. Bloom (Eds.), Promoting civic health of communities through social capital (pp. 101-118). Springer Publishing.
- Financing prevention: Opportunities for economic analysis across the translational research cycle.
Crowley, M., & Jones, D. (2016). Translational Behavioral Medicine, 6(1), 145-152.
- Advancing the power of economic evidence to inform investments in children, youth, and families
Basurto-Davila, R., Brooks-Gunn, J., Brooks, J., Chow, B., Corso, P., Crowley, D. M., Fitzpatrick, J., Karoly, L., Kuklinski, M., Nugent, R., Acosta-Price, O., Miller, T., Sheridan, A., Steurle, E., & Jackson, L. (2016). Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
- The power of a collaborative relationship between technical assistance providers and community prevention teams: A correlational and longitudinal study
Chilenski, S., Perkins, D. F., Olson, J. R., Hoffman, L., Feinberg, M. E., Greenberg, M. T., Welsh, J. A., Crowley, D. M., & Spoth, R. L. (2016). Evaluation and Program Planning, 54(1), 19-29.
- Considering valuation of noncognitive skills in benefit-cost analysis of programs for children
Jones, D. E., Karoly, L. A., Crowley, M., & Greenberg, M. T. (2016). Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis, 6(3), 471-507.
- Early social-emotional functioning and public health: The relationship between kindergarten social competence and future wellness
Jones, D., Greenberg, M., & Crowley, M. (2015). American Journal of Public Health, 105(11), 22832290.
- The role of social impact bonds in pediatric care
Crowley, M. (2014). Pediatrics, 134(2), 331-333.
- Can we build an efficient response to the prescription drug abuse epidemic? Assessing the cost-effectiveness of universal prevention
Crowley, M., Jones, D. E., Greenberg, M. T., Coffman, D., & Spoth, R. (2014). Preventive Medicine, 62, 71-77.
