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Bridging the academic-practitioner gap in RCTs

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  • Parker, A. Rani
  • Coleman, Eric
  • Manyindo, Jacob
  • Mukuru, Emmanuel
  • Schultz, Bill

Abstract

The use of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) to evaluate development programs presents important challenges and opportunities for collaboration between academics and practitioners. Our team of experts measured the effectiveness of multi-stakeholder forums in 107 villages in Uganda over three years using an RCT approach. The focused technical demands of an RCT and the broad reality of practitioner worlds forced the team to tackle questions of: (a) how to manage the tensions of qualitative and quantitative data given the demand for evaluation procedures like power analysis estimation and hypothesis testing; (b) how to define measurable impact so it represents program realities and is amenable to the standardization required by an RCT; and (c) what compromises are required to maintain the spirit and practice of collaboration. We conclude that meaningful collaboration requires immense effort and compromise to leverage the significant benefits possible under this research paradigm.

Suggested Citation

  • Parker, A. Rani & Coleman, Eric & Manyindo, Jacob & Mukuru, Emmanuel & Schultz, Bill, 2020. "Bridging the academic-practitioner gap in RCTs," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:127:y:2020:i:c:s0305750x19304681
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104819
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Latynskiy, Evgeny & Berger, Thomas, 2016. "Networks of Rural Producer Organizations in Uganda: What Can be Done to Make Them Work Better?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 572-586.
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    3. Sophie Webber & Carolyn Prouse, 2018. "The New Gold Standard: The Rise of Randomized Control Trials and Experimental Development," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 94(2), pages 166-187, March.
    4. Betsy Sinclair & Margaret McConnell & Donald P. Green, 2012. "Detecting Spillover Effects: Design and Analysis of Multilevel Experiments," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 56(4), pages 1055-1069, October.
    5. Guy Grossman & Delia Baldassarri, 2012. "The Impact of Elections on Cooperation: Evidence from a Lab‐in‐the‐Field Experiment in Uganda," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 56(4), pages 964-985, October.
    6. James D. Fearon & Macartan Humphreys & Jeremy M. Weinstein, 2009. "Can Development Aid Contribute to Social Cohesion after Civil War? Evidence from a Field Experiment in Post-conflict Liberia," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 99(2), pages 287-291, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Roelen, Keetie & Saha, Amrita, 2021. "Pathways to stronger futures? The role of social protection in reducing psychological risk factors for child development in Haiti," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).

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