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Understanding Census Non-Response

Maxwell X Lab employed a multi-method approach to understand the scope of the problem of census non-response and identify possible solutions to low response rates across NYS. 
May 13, 2024

Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program Evaluation

The Maxwell X Lab tested the effectiveness of MRT-O and IJ on individuals’ engagement with the treatment program and their subsequent outcomes. 
October 12, 2023

Veteran Food Assistance Awareness Survey Experiment

Military personnel and their families face significant challenges as they transition to civilian life, including increased risk of food insecurity. Drawing from behavioral science principles, the Maxwell X Lab designed a survey experiment aimed to potentially improve the salience and clarity of communication of food assistance programs, specifically the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), to transitioning service members. 
October 9, 2023

The Child Care Landscape in Onondaga County: A Supply & Demand Analysis

The Early Childhood Alliance (ECA), Child Care Solutions, and Onondaga County Department of Social Services commissioned Maxwell X Lab and the R/E/D Group to use quantitative and qualitative methods to assess gaps to childcare access in Onondaga County. 
October 9, 2023

Coastal Risk Message and Septic Tank Replacement

A survey conducted by Syracuse University aimed to assess flood risk perceptions among homeowners meeting specific criteria: homeowners with septic systems living in coastal areas. 
September 21, 2023

Performance Metrics for WMATA Incident Management

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) contracted with the Maxwell X Lab to generate an incident management framework, created to implement clear and simple incident management procedures to ensure prompt service restoration, accountability to the public, and adherence to current rules and regulations.
September 21, 2023

Evaluating Email Nudges for the Healthy Monday Race Across the U.S.

The Maxwell X Lab partnered with the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion & Population Health to create email messages to encourage engagement in weekly activities and challenges.
December 13, 2022

Help Me Grow Follow Up Texting Intervention

The Maxwell X Lab partnered with Help Me Grow (HMG) to test if a texting campaign that leverages the importance of timing can better encourage parents to respond to the HMG team more consistently.
February 28, 2022

Increasing Take Up for Help Me Grow

The Maxwell X Lab partnered with CNY Diaper Bank and Help Me Grow to test if a sticker campaign using behaviorally informed messaging might encourage parents to reach out to Help Me Grow via text messages to connect for social services, and, ultimately, to increase developmental screenings.
August 4, 2021

New Orleans Parklet/Curbside Dining Pilot Evaluation

The goal of this program was to allow restaurants and bars to remain operational while minimizing the spread of COVID-19.
May 21, 2021

CNY Diaper Bank Data Collection System

The Maxwell X Lab partnered with the CNY Diaper bank to improve the organization’s data collection process.
April 29, 2021

Hennepin County, MN SNAP

We tested behavioral interventions designed to increase the likelihood that SNAP recipients recertify on-time in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
July 30, 2020

City of Syracuse Taxes

We tested whether courtesy notices for overdue property tax bills would impact payments.

November 1, 2019

ProLiteracy Adult Literacy

We tested whether weekly reminders and encouragement would affect attendance.

August 5, 2019

St. Paul, Minnesota Garbage Fees

Project to to improve garbage fee collections on overdue accounts

August 4, 2019

Glimmerglass Festival

We tested the impact listening to the Breaking Glass podcast has on interest levels in performing arts and on improving diversity in performing arts .

May 16, 2019

Family Planning

We tested whether behaviorally informed appointment reminders could increase attendance at reproductive health clinics.

May 16, 2019

Buffalo, NY Water Bill Collections

We tested whether redesigned notices for overdue water bills would improve payments.

May 9, 2019

Early Childhood Alliance

We evaluated whether a targeted literacy campaign could increase parent/guardian awareness of the importance of reading and communicating with young children.

November 18, 2018

City of Syracuse Foreclosure

We tested whether redesigned foreclosure prevention notifications would affect follow through.

July 5, 2018

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Featured Projects

Evaluating New York State's Opioid Court Treatment Enhancement Project


The Maxwell X Lab is partnering with the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, to evaluate substance abuse treatment and recovery support service systems treating individuals with opioid use disorders (OUD), participating in ten geographically diverse opioid courts in the state of New York. 

Gavel on a desk

Tracking the Effectiveness of Healthy Food Choice Messaging


The Maxwell X Lab tested whether marketing of healthy food choices would increase consumption of healthy foods. Syracuse University Food Services, in conjunction with the Lerner Center, implemented a series of low-cost marketing materials in a treatment cafe. In order to measure the effectiveness of this intervention, we tracked sales of three healthy items in a control and treatment cafe before and after the marketing intervention (six weeks).

Example graph of healthy food choices

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Messages Touting the Benefits of Physical Activity


Maxwell X Lab and the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion Monday Miles partnered to evaluate whether targeted messages increased physical activity in a neighborhood park.

This intervention was targeted at increasing awareness and use of the Sunnycrest Park Monday Mile by Eastwood residents. The intervention included a postal flyer, five weekly A/B tested emails, and a Facebook campaign. We measured responses to emails, pedestrian use of the Monday Mile path, and standard website analytics for Facebook. 

Healthy Monday  - Monday Mile signs

CA$H Coalition


The Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program works with IRS-trained volunteers in local communities to offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. The United Way of the Greater Capital Region in New York State offers V.I.T.A. services to income-eligible residents through its CA$H Coalition program.

Maxwell X Lab helped CA$H Coaltion organizers optimize their messaging about the program by creating two sets of full and half-page flyers leveraging behaviorally informed messaging (loss aversion and endowment effect). The communications were also formatted to include unique numbers for residents to use or reference when accessing VITA sites. The purpose of the unique number was to enable tracking of which messaging was resonating most. In addition, X Lab created a Google feedback form for customers of VITA sites to use. 

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (V.I.T.A) program
Maxwell X Lab
426 Eggers Hall