Quasi-experimental evaluation without regression analysis.
Evaluators of public health programs in field settings cannot always randomize subjects into experimental or control groups. By default, they may choose to employ the weakest study design available: the pretest, posttest approach without a comparison group. This essay argues that natural experiments involving comparison groups are within reach of public health program managers. Methods for analyzing natural experiments are discussed.
Rohrer
James E
JE
Employee and Community Health, Mayo Clinic-Rochester, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. rohrer.james@mayo.edu
D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*; D012044:Regression Analysis