Preface vii Abbreviations and Acronyms ix 1 The Experimental Approach 1 2 Why Randomize? 24 3 Asking the Right Questions 66 4 Randomizing 98 5 Outcomes and Instruments 180 6 Statistical Power 241 7 Threats 298 8 Analysis 324 9 Drawing Policy Lessons 386 Appendix 421 Glossary 443 Index 453
Rachel Glennerster is executive director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Kudzai Takavarasha holds degrees in chemical engineering and economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and was a policy manager at J-PAL from 2004 to 2012.
"The popularity of randomized evaluations among researchers and
policymakers is growing and holds great promise for a world where
decision making will be based increasingly on rigorous evidence and
creative thinking. However, conducting a randomized evaluation can
be daunting. There are many steps, and decisions made early on can
have unforeseen implications for the life of the project. This
book, based on more than a decade of personal experience by a
foremost practitioner and a wealth of knowledge gathered over the
years by researchers at J-PAL, provides both comfort and guidance
to anyone seeking to engage in this process."—Esther Duflo,
codirector of J-PAL and coauthor of Poor Economics
"Randomized impact evaluations, pioneered by Rachel Glennerster and
her colleagues, have emerged as a powerful new tool in the fight
against poverty. This book gives us a critical guide for how to
actually do them. It is required reading for students,
professionals, and researchers committed to using evidence to guide
policy."—Dean Karlan, coauthor of More Than Good Intentions
"I have been searching for a book to train my students, research
assistants, and field staff to design and implement social policy
experiments. My search is over. Running Randomized Evaluations
provides practical guidance covering all stages of an
experiment—wisdom that previously could be acquired only by working
directly for an evaluation expert."—Jeffrey B. Liebman, John F.
Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
"Impact evaluation is a key resource for improving development
effectiveness, yet until now it was inaccessible to
people—policymakers, NGO staff, and development professionals of
all kinds. Oftentimes, we get stuck in the theoretical discourse
and philosophical debate and miss the chance to talk about the
practical toolkit needed to actually do impact evaluation. Running
Randomized Evaluations will significantly contribute to accelerate
advancements in the field by making the tools of the trade
accessible and user-friendly. This is a must-read guide for
policymakers, practitioners, and donors alike."—Jodi Nelson, Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation
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