Through a combination of lectures and case studies from real randomized evaluations, the course will focus on the benefits and methods of randomization, choosing an appropriate sample size, and common threats and pitfalls to the validity of an experiment. While the course centers on the why, how, and when of randomized evaluations, it will also impart insights on the importance of needs assessments, effectively measuring outcomes, quality control, and the monitoring methods most useful for impact evaluations.
This social impact course is designed for people from a variety of backgrounds: managers and researchers from international development organizations, foundations, governments, and non-governmental organizations from around the world, as well as trained economists looking to retool.
What you'll learn:
- Why and when rigorous evaluation of social impact is needed
- The pitfalls of common evaluation designs, and why randomization helps
- The key components of a well-designed randomized evaluation
- Alternative techniques for incorporating randomization into project design
- How to determine the appropriate sample size, measure outcomes, and manage data
- Guarding against threats that may undermine the integrity of the results
- Techniques for the analysis and interpretation of results
- How to maximize policy impact and test external validity
- The whys and hows of comparative cost-effectiveness analysis for informed policy making