Randomized Experiments for Planning and Evaluation : A Practical Guide

How can one tell if a new programme has been effective or not? Is there any way to predict how a group of individuals would have fared without the new programme or service? Packed with rich and varied examples, Robert F Boruch′s book untangles the complexities of randomized field experiments to enable researchers to evaluate better the impact of new programmes. After an exploration of how to judge whether or not a programme worked, the author discusses: the context of experiments; the standards used to judge the ethical propriety of randomized experiments; methods for studying populations; sampling methods; the randomization procedure; baseline measures; missing data registry; and analyses for quality assurance.

How can you tell if a new program has been effective or not? Is there any way to predict how a group of individuals would have fared without the new program or service? Packed with rich and varied examples, Robert F. Boruch untangles the complexities of randomized field experiments so that researchers can better evaluate the impact of new programs. Beginning with an exploration of how to judge whether or not a program worked (and for how much of the time), Boruch explores the context of experiments; the standards used to judge the ethical propriety of randomized experiments; methods for studying populations; and sampling methods, including pilot tests and arrangements for random allocation. He also covers baseline measures, including when to measure costs; missing data registry; and analyses of quality assurance, including analyses that have to be engineered to suit the departures from the design. Randomized Experiments for Planning and Evaluation is thoughtfully written, providing researchers with a reliable guide for constructing their own randomized field experiments. Randomized Experiments for Planning and Evaluation is for all professionals and practitioners in evaluation/research methods, statistics, psychology, sociology, political science, social work, and public health who need to stay on the cutting edge.