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An introduction to the use of randomized control trials to evaluate development interventions

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Abstract

RCTs have become popular in the development community as part of the response to the results agenda. These studies are well placed to address the question of which programmes work or not. And, properly designed, they can be embedded in a broader evaluation design which also addresses questions of why an intervention works in a specific context or not, and at what cost. Usually the appropriate design will not be a simple randomization drawn from an eligible list. So there are several decisions to be made in designing a RCT, and these decisions should be recorded in a study protocol which is placed in the public domain before the study begins. Many of the criticisms of RCTs can be responded to. But some require more reflection and research and have implications for the conduct of RCTs.

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  • White, Howard, 2011. "An introduction to the use of randomized control trials to evaluate development interventions," 3ie Publications 2011-9, International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie).
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:iiierp:2011_009
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    1. Howard White, 2009. "Theory-based impact evaluation: principles and practice," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 1(3), pages 271-284.
    2. Duflo, Esther & Glennerster, Rachel & Kremer, Michael, 2008. "Using Randomization in Development Economics Research: A Toolkit," Handbook of Development Economics, in: T. Paul Schultz & John A. Strauss (ed.), Handbook of Development Economics, edition 1, volume 4, chapter 61, pages 3895-3962, Elsevier.
    3. Fiona Samuels & Sam McPherson, 2010. "Meeting the challenge of proving impact in Andhra Pradesh, India," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(4), pages 468-485.
    4. Anju Vajja & Howard White, 2008. "Can the World Bank Build Social Capital? The Experience of Social Funds in Malawi and Zambia," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(8), pages 1145-1168.
    5. White, Howard, 2009. "Theory-Based Impact Evaluation," 3ie Publications 2009-3, International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie).
    6. Edward Miguel & Michael Kremer, 2004. "Worms: Identifying Impacts on Education and Health in the Presence of Treatment Externalities," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 72(1), pages 159-217, January.
    7. Howard White, 2011. "Achieving high-quality impact evaluation design through mixed methods: the case of infrastructure," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 3(1), pages 131-144.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wim Naudé, 2011. "Foreign Aid for Innovation: The Missing Ingredient in Private Sector Development?," Working Papers 2011/35, Maastricht School of Management.
    2. Michel Abramowicz & Ariane Szafarz, 2019. "Ethics of Randomized Controlled Trials: Should Economists Care about Equipoise?," Working Papers CEB 19-017, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    3. Wendy Olsen, 2019. "Bridging to Action Requires Mixed Methods, Not Only Randomised Control Trials," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 31(2), pages 139-162, April.
    4. Vivian A. Welch & Elizabeth Ghogomu & Alomgir Hossain & Shally Awasthi & Zulfi Bhutta & Chisa Cumberbatch & Robert Fletcher & Jessie McGowan & Shari Krishnaratne & Elizabeth Kristjansson & Salim Sohan, 2016. "Deworming and adjuvant interventions for improving the developmental health and well‐being of children in low‐ and middle‐income countries: a systematic review and network meta‐analysis," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(1), pages 1-383.
    5. Ali Bassam Mahmoud & Mayssa Alatrash & Leonora Fuxman & Abdelrhman Ahmad Meero & Eiad Yafi, 2019. "Total Quality Management Boosters and Blockers in a Humanitarian Setting: An Exploratory Investigation," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(2), pages 21582440198, April.
    6. Ruth Stewart & Carina van Rooyen & Thea de Wet, 2012. "Purity or pragmatism? Reflecting on the use of systematic review methodology in development," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(3), pages 430-444, September.
    7. Gaarder, Marie & Annan, Jeannie, 2013. "Impact evaluation of conflict prevention and peacebuilding interventions," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6496, The World Bank.
    8. Ndhlovu, Obrian & Muchapondwa, Edwin, 2021. "The Impact of Farmer Input Support Programme Reform on Crop Diversification and Rotation in Zambia," EfD Discussion Paper 21-10, Environment for Development, University of Gothenburg.
    9. Jens Eger & Sebastian H. Schneider & Martin Bruder & Solveig H. Gleser, 2023. "Does Evidence Matter? The Impact of Evidence Regarding Aid Effectiveness on Attitudes Towards Aid," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 35(5), pages 1149-1172, October.
    10. Godfrey E. Siu & Daniel Wight & Janet Seeley & Carolyn Namutebi & Richard Sekiwunga & Flavia Zalwango & Sarah Kasule, 2017. "Men’s Involvement in a Parenting Programme to Reduce Child Maltreatment and Gender-Based Violence: Formative Evaluation in Uganda," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 29(5), pages 1017-1037, November.
    11. Bob Baulch, 2011. "The medium-term impact of the primary education stipend in rural Bangladesh," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 3(2), pages 243-262.
    12. Owusu-Addo, Ebenezer & Renzaho, Andre M.N. & Smith, Ben J., 2018. "Evaluation of cash transfer programs in sub-Saharan Africa: A methodological review," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 47-56.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    randomized control trials; impact evaluation;

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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