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

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  • Howard White

Abstract

Randomised control trials (RCTs) analyse what difference a programme makes through comparing those in the programme to a control group who do not receive it. Random assignment to the project and control groups overcomes selection bias which will otherwise occur from programme placement or self-selection. Conducting an RCT requires decisions regarding the unit of assignment, the number of 'treatment arms' and what, if anything, will be provided to the control group and when. A variety of RCT designs are available, including encouragement designs, raised threshold designs, randomising across the pipeline, and factorial designs, which are decided upon according to the intervention and the evaluation question. This article also addresses criticisms of RCTs, which are mostly argued to rest on misunderstandings of the approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Howard White, 2013. "An introduction to the use of randomised control trials to evaluate development interventions," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(1), pages 30-49, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevef:v:5:y:2013:i:1:p:30-49
    DOI: 10.1080/19439342.2013.764652
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Gaarder, Marie & Annan, Jeannie, 2013. "Impact evaluation of conflict prevention and peacebuilding interventions," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6496, The World Bank.
    3. 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.
    4. Wim Naudé, 2011. "Foreign Aid for Innovation: The Missing Ingredient in Private Sector Development?," Working Papers 2011/35, Maastricht School of Management.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. 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.
    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. 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.
    12. 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.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

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

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