Dr. Gil G. Noam developed the RALLY model of afterschool interventions as an outgrowth of his clinical research at McLean Hospital, and PEAR continues to see research as a foundation for all its endeavors. Each year RALLY, GEAR UP, and The New 3R's conduct extensive evaluations to measure progress toward their goals and to identify ways to better meet students needs in the future. A private-public partnership (Institute for Educational Science, Piper Trust and Haan Foundation) is funding a randomized control study PEAR is conducting of a reading and resilience intervention for young struggling readers in afterschool settings.

PEAR is also committed to research efforts extending beyond its own programs. PEAR and the Laboratory of Developmental Psychology at McLean Hospital jointly house the journal New Directions For Youth Development, which publishes cutting edge research in the field of developmental psychology. Together with its funders and co-sponsors, PEAR also hosts an annual Learning with Excitement conference where local, national, and international researchers and practitioners present and discuss new developments in the afterschool field.