Is the Head Start Impact Study dataset appropriate for my research question?

The Head Start Impact Study (HSIS) was designed to determine whether Head Start has impacts on participating children and their parents and whether any impacts vary among different types of children and families. By impact we mean a difference between the outcomes observed for Head Start participants (Head Start or treatment group) and what would have been observed for these same individuals had they not participated in Head Start (measured using a control group). The HSIS restricted use file is best for analyzing research questions related to comparing outcomes for children relative to their participation in Head Start while the Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES)[1] file may better fit research questions related to variation in children within Head Start. The HSIS and FACES instruments include similar measurements but FACES can provide more recent information.

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[1] FACES uses a nationally representative sample of Head Start programs, centers, classrooms, children and parents to collect data on the cognitive, social, emotional and physical development of Head Start children; the characteristics, well-being and accomplishments of families; the quality of Head Start classrooms; and the characteristics, needs and opinions of Head Start teachers and other program staff.  FACES follows Head Start children through their kindergarten year.