University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Practical Challenges and Strategies for Randomised Control Trials in Agricultural Extension and Other Development Programmes

Culbertson, Michael J.; McCole, Daniel; McNamara, Paul E.

Content Files
Culbertson-2014-RCT-challenges.pdf

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/73405

Description

Title
Practical Challenges and Strategies for Randomised Control Trials in Agricultural Extension and Other Development Programmes
Author(s)
  • Culbertson, Michael J.
  • McCole, Daniel
  • McNamara, Paul E.
Issue Date
2014
Keyword(s)
  • randomised control trial (RCT)
  • impact evaluation
  • development evaluation
  • operational settings
  • agricultural extension
  • Uganda
  • Africa
Date of Ingest
2015-03-19T18:45:40Z
Abstract
Randomised control trials (RCTs) can yield information about the effectiveness of agricultural extension and other development programmes, facilitating cost–benefit analyses and policy decisions under resource constraints. However, even after RCT design questions have been settled, a number of other practical challenges to successful RCTs remain. As a guide to those interested in applying RCTs more extensively, we outline several ethical, organisational, design and field-based challenges for RCTs, along with potential strategies for mitigating the challenges. We provide illustrations from our experience of an RCT of the Community Knowledge Worker programme, a novel agricultural extension model in Uganda.
Publisher
Routledge
Type of Resource
text
Genre of Resource
Article
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/73405
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/19439342.2014.919339
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
United States Agency for International Development

Owning Collections

Research and Presentations - Education PRIMARY