| Session Title: Designing Randomized Trials With Adequate Power: A Demonstration of the Optimal Design Software |
| Demonstration Session 857 to be held in Mineral Hall Section B on Saturday, Nov 8, 10:45 AM to 12:15 PM |
| Sponsored by the Quantitative Methods: Theory and Design TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Jessaca Spybrook, Western Michigan University, jessaca.spybrook@wmich.edu |
| Abstract: The use of randomized trials in evaluation has become more prevalent in the past few years as a result of the federal emphasis on evidence-based practices. However, if the experiments are not adequately powered, they may not be capable of producing the rigorous evidence sought by the recent shift in federal policies. The purpose of this demonstration is to increase understanding among evaluators of how to optimally design randomized studies for measuring the impacts of interventions, specifically studies that randomize intact groups of individuals. This session will introduce the key issues in designing group-randomized trials and demonstrate how to design adequately powered group randomized trials using the Optimal Design software, a user-friendly program for calculating the power of studies that randomize groups or individuals. |