A method to obtain a randomized control group where it seems impossible. A case study in program evaluation.

S H Zhu

doi:10.1177/0193841x9902300401

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A method to obtain a randomized control group where it seems impossible. A case study in program evaluation.

S H Zhu

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Abstract

Randomization of program participants into control and experimental groups is often not feasible in field settings. The researcher's desire to evaluate a program with a rigorous experimental design is often incompatible with the objective of serving the expressed needs of the program participants. However, opportunities do arise when a randomized control group can be constructed without disregarding the participants' wish to be included in the treatment group. This article describes a method that uses the participants' compliance to program instructions as a means of classifying participants and, thereby, obtains a randomized control group for a subset of participants. A large smoking intervention project is used to illustrate two variations of this method.

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Algorithms California Decision Trees Health Services Research Hotlines Humans Patient Acceptance of Health Care Program Evaluation Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic Research Design Smoking Cessation Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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S H Zhu. 1999. A method to obtain a randomized control group where it seems impossible. A case study in program evaluation.. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193841x9902300401

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