Does the RCT tail wag the implementation dog?

Pieternella Pieterse

World Development, 2020, vol. 127, issue C

Abstract: It is important to test whether one intervention proves to be more successful than another at achieving the same goal, before deciding which one to introduce or scale up. Using randomised controlled trials (RCTs) can be useful when comparing efficacy, be that of medical treatments, or international development interventions. However, the research community should be careful not to let the RCT tail wag the implementation dog. A balance needs to be struck, between researchers primarily focusing on the research standards and data-gathering protocols on the one hand; and ensuring that the implementation of the interventions under study are carried out with integrity, on the other.

Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:127:y:2020:i:c:s0305750x1930470x

DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104821

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