ARC has a long history of using program evaluations to measure program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. These evaluations, plus Commission research, were used in the development of the strategic plan. Each year, one of the Commission's strategic goals is selected for review and analysis. The reviews are conducted by qualified independent, third-party organizations (e.g., private firms, universities) whose work is conducted under professional standards to ensure independence, relevance, and quality. Evaluations focus on the extent to which projects have achieved, or contribute to the achievement of, their objectives. Particular emphasis is placed on assessing the utility and validity of the output and outcome measures. ARC's research activities focus on new program areas, problems and concerns of citizens, and the root causes of economic distress. In recent years, the following evaluations have been published:

1. Evaluation of the Appalachian Regional Commission's Community Capacity–Building Projects. Westat Corporation, July 2004.
2. Evaluation of the Appalachian Regional Commission's Telecommunications Projects: 1994–2000. Westat Corporation, June 2003.
3. Evaluation of the Appalachian Regional Commission's Vocational Education and Workforce Training Projects.Westat Corporation, January 2002.
4. Evaluation of the Appalachian Regional Commission's Educational Projects: Final Report (Vol. 1). Westat Corporation, March 2001.
5. Collected Case Study Evaluations of the Appalachian Regional Commission's Educational Projects (Vol. 2). Westat Corporation, March 2001.
6. Evaluation of the Early Stages of the Appalachian Regional Commission's Entrepreneurship Initiative. Regional Technology Strategies, March 2001; revised December 2001.
7. Evaluation of the Appalachian Regional Commission's Infrastructure and Public Works Program Projects. Brandow Company and Economic Development Research Group, June 2000.
8. Appalachian Development Highways Economic Impact Studies. Wilbur Smith Associates, July 1998.

Research reports published in recent years include the following:

1. Housing and Commuting Patterns in Appalachia. Mark Mather, Population Reference Bureau, January 2004.
2. Appalachia at the Millennium: An Overview of Results from Census 2000. Kelvin M. Pollard, Population Reference Bureau, June 2003.
3. An Analysis of the Financial Conditions of Health Care Institutions in the Appalachian Region and their Economic Impacts. Jeffrey Stensland, Curt Mueller, and Janet Sutton, Project HOPE, December 2002.
4. Regional Technology Assets and Opportunities: The Geographic Clustering of High-Tech Industry, Science and Innovation in Appalachia. Edward Feser, Harvey Goldstein, Henry Renski, and Catherine Renault, Office of Economic Development, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, August 2002.
5. Links to the Future: The Role of Information and Telecommunications Technology in Appalachian Economic Development. Michael Oden and Sharon Strover with Nobuya Inagaki, Martha Arosemena, Jeremy Gustafson, and Chris Lucas, University of Texas, June 2002; updated June 2004.
6. Comparing Electricity Deregulation in California and Pennsylvania: Implications for the Appalachian Region. Timothy J. Considine and Andrew N. Kleit, Center for Economic and Environmental Risk Assessment, Pennsylvania State University, January 2002.
7. Analysis of Business Formation, Survival, and Attrition Rates of New and Existing Firms and Related Job Flows in Appalachia. The Brandow Company, October 2001.
8. An Assessment of Labor Force Participation Rates and Underemployment in Appalachia. David H. Bradley, Stephen A. Herzenberg, and Howard Wial, Keystone Research Center, August 2001.
9. Handbook for Assessing Economic Opportunities from Appalachian Development Highways. Economic Development Research Group and Cambridge Systematics, March 2001.
10. A Study on the Current Economic Impacts of the Appalachian Coal Industry and its Future in the Region. Mark Berger, Eric Thompson, Steven Allen, and Jonathan Roenker, Center for Business and Economic Research, University of Kentucky, March 2001.
11. Recent Trends in Poverty in the Appalachian Region: The Implications of the U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates on the ARC Distressed Counties Designation. Roger Hammer, Applied Population Laboratory, University of Wisconsin, August 2000.
12. An Analysis of the Economic Development Role of Business Associations and Other Intermediary Organizations Serving Appalachian Industries (Vol. 1). Lynn McCormick, Hunter College at the City University of New York, April 2000.
13. Appalachian Migration Patterns, 1975–1980 and 1985–1990. Phillip J. Obermiller, Appalachian Center, University of Kentucky, and Steven R. Howe, University of Cincinnati, March 2000.
14. Progress and Challenges in Reducing Economic Distress in Appalachia: An Analysis of National and Regional Trends Since 1960. Lawrence E. Wood and Gregory A. Bischak, Appalachian Regional Commission, January 2000.
15. Demographic Diversity and Economic Change in Appalachia. Diane K. McLaughlin, Daniel T. Lichter, and Stephen A. Matthews with Glynis Daniels and James Cameron, Population Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, July 1999.
16. Foundation Funding in the Appalachian Region in the 1990s: Patterns, Trends, and Prospects. Greg Bischak, Appalachian Regional Commission, March 1999.
17. Building on Past Experiences: Creating a New Future for Distressed Counties. Amy K. Glasmeier and Kurtis G. Fuellhart, Institute for Policy Research and Evaluation, Pennsylvania State University, January 1999.
18. The Economic Impact of Tobacco Production in Appalachia. Lawrence E. Wood, Appalachian Regional Commission, November 1998.
19. Exports, Competitiveness, and Synergy in Appalachian Industry Clusters. Stuart A. Rosenfeld, Regional Technology Strategies, February 1997.
20. Socio-Economic Review of Appalachia, Appalachia Then and Now: An Update of "The Realities of Deprivation" Reported to the President in 1964. Andrew M. Isserman, West Virginia University, November 1996.