Exam 11: Using Experiments to Evaluate Programs

Describe the threats to internal validity that can hinder the interpretability of experimental evaluations.

When an evaluator recognizes a potential threat to the internal validity of an evaluation,

When an outcome evaluation is designed as an experimental evaluation,

Diffusion or imitation of the program by people in a non-treatment control group tends to

The use of pretests in an experimental evaluation may introduce the internal validity threat of

Pretests are recommended even when the evaluation design consists of randomly formed groups because

Distinguish the internal validity threat of history from the internal validity threat of local history.

Describe the reasons that program staff often give when they object to conducting an evaluation using an experiment involving random assignment to groups.

Although some quasi-experimental designs are fairly effective in separating the effect of the program from viable alternative interpretations,