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
Data Collection and Access
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.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) proposals
Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) review research involving human subjects to ensure that participants are protected from potentially harmful research. This resource provides an overview of the roles...
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...
Survey programming
This resource covers best practices for programming a survey using computer assisted personal interview (CAPI) software. We primarily rely on examples using SurveyCTO, which is widely used by J-PAL...
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...
Introduction to randomized evaluations
This resource gives an overview and non-technical introduction to randomized evaluations. Randomized evaluations can be used to measure impact in policy research: to date, J-PAL affiliated researchers...
Data de-identification
Researchers who plan to publish data on human subjects should take careful steps to protect the confidentiality of study participants through data de-identification—a process that reduces the risk of...
Randomization
Randomization for causal inference has a storied history. Controlled randomized experiments were invented by Charles Sanders Peirce and Joseph Jastrow in 1884. Jerzy Neyman introduced stratified...
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...