Group Comparability: A Multiattribute Utility Measurement Approach to the Use of Random Assignment with Small Numbers of Aggregated Units

Authors

C. Anderson Johnson, Claremont Graduate UniversityFollow
John W. Graham, University of Southern California
Brian R. Flay, University of Illinois at Chicago
William B. Hansen, University of Southern California
Linda M. Collins, University of Southern California

Document Type

Article

Department

Community and Global Health (CGU)

Publication Date

4-1984

Disciplines

Categorical Data Analysis | Design of Experiments and Sample Surveys | Investigative Techniques | Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies

Abstract

It is not always possible, especially in large-scale evaluation research, to ensure that random assignment will produce groups that are comparable on any number of potentially important factors. Typically, gaining comparability has been achieved only at the expense of random assignment. A method is presented that allows multivariate comparability while making only minimal restrictions on randomization. The procedure is demonstrated in the context of assigning 63 aggregated units (schools) to 28 experimental and control conditions. Good comparability of groups for all primary main effects and interactions was verified for 15 individual variables.

Rights Information

© 1984 Sage Publications, Inc.

DOI

10.1177/0193841X8400800206

Recommended Citation

Graham, J.W., Flay, B.R., Johnson, C.A., Hansen, W.B., & Collins, L.M. Group comparability: A multi-attribute utility measurement approach to the use of random assignment with small numbers of aggregated units. Eval Rev, 8(1), 247-260, 1984.