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To RCT or not, is not the question: Methods for policy-relevant research on gender equality

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  • de Haan, Arjan
  • Dowie, Gillian
  • Mariara, Jane

Abstract

This contribution reflects on lessons about research methods from GrOW, a large program on women's economic empowerment. GrOW encouraged multiple methods and inter-disciplinarity, and adopted experimental and quasi-experimental methods, survey data analysis, in-depth interviews, and PhotoVoice. We find that choices of and preferences for methods and measures do not lead to exclusion of complementary and other approaches – and this applied to the experimental studies as much as the others. Solution- and policy-oriented research requires combinations of methods, including demonstrating the ‘why’ as well as the ‘what’, and the capacity to do this well is not widespread.

Suggested Citation

  • de Haan, Arjan & Dowie, Gillian & Mariara, Jane, 2020. "To RCT or not, is not the question: Methods for policy-relevant research on gender equality," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:127:y:2020:i:c:s0305750x19304437
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104794
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    1. Shelley Clark & Caroline W. Kabiru & Sonia Laszlo & Stella Muthuri, 2019. "The Impact of Childcare on Poor Urban Women’s Economic Empowerment in Africa," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 56(4), pages 1247-1272, August.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Eger, Claudia & Fetzer, Thiemo & Peck, Jennifer & Alodayni, Saleh, 2022. "Organizational, economic or cultural? Firm-side barriers to employing women in Saudi Arabia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    3. Margolies, Amy & Colantuoni, Elizabeth & Morgan, Rosemary & Gelli, Aulo & Caulfield, Laura, 2023. "The burdens of participation: A mixed-methods study of the effects of a nutrition-sensitive agriculture program on women’s time use in Malawi," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).

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