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Program Evaluation: A Variety of Rigorous Methods Can Help
Identify Effective Interventions
GAO-10-30 November 23, 2009 http://www.gao.gov/Products/GAO-10-30
Several
rigorous
alternatives
to randomized experiments are considered appropriate for other
situations: quasi-experimental comparison group studies,
statistical analyses of observational data, and--in some
circumstances--in-depth case studies. The credibility of their
estimates of program effects relies on how well the studies'
designs rule out competing causal explanations. Collecting
additional data and targeting comparisons can help rule out other
explanations. GAO concludes that (1) requiring evidence from
randomized studies as sole proof of effectiveness will likely
exclude many potentially effective and worthwhile practices
Including these
Case Study Evaluations PEMD-10.1.9, November 1990 summary
here http://www.gao.gov/products/PEMD-10.1.9
The Evaluation Synthesis PEMD-10.1.2, March 1992 summary
here http://www.gao.gov/products/PEMD-10.1.2
full
report
here
http://www.gao.gov/special.pubs/pe1012.pdf
Performance Measurement and Evaluation: Definitions and
Relationships. GAO-11-646SP May 2, 2011. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11646sp.pdf
Quantitative Data Analysis: An Introduction. PEMD-10.1.11. June
1992. Guidance. 110 pp summary here http://www.gao.gov/products/PEMD-10.1.11
full report here http://www.gao.gov/special.pubs/pe10111.pdf
Using Structured Interviewing Techniques. PEMD-10.1.5. July 1991.
Guidance. 92 pp. http://www.gao.gov/special.pubs/pe1015.pdf
abstract here http://www.gao.gov/products/PEMD-10.1.4
A couple of other books at the GAO website
not listed there are these.
Developing and Using Questionnaires PEMD-10.1.7 October 1993 238
pp. summary here http://www.gao.gov/products/PEMD-10.1.7
Old, but still very good.
Using Statistical Sampling, PEMD-10.1.6, from 1992. summary
here http://www.gao.gov/products/PEMD-10.1.6
Content Analysis: A Methodology for Structuring and Analyzing
Written Material. PEMD-10.3.1. September 1, 1996. Guidance. 57
pp. http://www.gao.gov/products/PEMD-10.3.1