Our library of practical resources is intended for researchers and research staff undertaking randomized evaluations, as well as those teaching the technique to others, and anyone interested in how randomized evaluations are conducted.
Incorporating lessons learned through our own experience and through guidance from researchers and research organizations, we provide practical advice for designing, implementing, and communicating about evaluations. These resources are a collaborative effort. We credit the authors of all the resources we post here, and link to their original work wherever possible.
Please reach out to us at [email protected] or fill out this form with questions or feedback.
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Introduction to Randomized Evaluations
Resources
A non-technical overview and step-by-step introduction for those who are new to randomized evaluations, as well as case studies and other teaching resources.
Before Starting a Project
Resources
Tips on successful field management and implementation partnerships for researchers who are new to fieldwork.
Project Planning
Resources
Highlights include: annotated checklist for designing an informed consent process, detailed advice on grant proposals and budgeting, and suggestions for proactive measures to help ensure ethical principles are followed in research design and implementation.
Research Design
Resources
Those designing a survey for the first time may find Introduction to measurement and indicators and Survey design useful. We provide best practices for ensuring randomization is stable, verifiable, and replicable, with related Stata commands.
Data Collection
Resources
This section contains guidance specific to working with surveyors or survey companies, information about administrative data collection, and information applicable to all modes of data collection, such as on data security, data quality, and grant management.
Processing and Analysis
Resources
All the steps in a research project after the data was collected or assembled, from data cleaning to communicating results.
Data security procedures for researchers
This document provides a primer on basic data security themes, provides context on elements of data security that are particularly relevant for randomized evaluations using individual-level...
Working with a third-party survey firm
This resource provides guidance on when to use an external survey firm and the process of identifying and contracting with a firm. It highlights topics in survey or study design that may be beneficial...
Field team management
This section discusses the logistics of managing surveyors and survey teams. Depending on the field team size, you may need to set up processes to manage upwards of 50 field staff. Thinking ahead...
Surveyor hiring and training
This resource focuses on in-house data collection. Information about outsourcing to survey firms is available in the resource on working with third party firms.
Running a large-scale household...
Survey logistics
Managing a survey is a massive logistical undertaking. This resource, and the other resources under survey data collection, describes the decisions to make and processes to set up in advance to...
The elements of a randomized evaluation
This resource presents a high-level overview of the steps of a randomized evaluation, while showcasing a selection of our teaching and learning tools that were created as part of our online and in...
Data quality checks
High-frequency checks, back-checks, and spot-checks can be used to detect programming errors, surveyor errors, data fabrication, poorly understood questions, and other issues. The results of these...
Using administrative data for randomized evaluations
Administrative data are information collected, used, and stored primarily for administrative (i.e., operational), rather than research, purposes. These data can be an excellent source of information...