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    20 August 2020, Volume 38 Issue 8 Previous Issue    Next Issue
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    Practices and Experiences of Randomized Controlled Trials in China’s Targeted Poverty Alleviations in Education
    Shi Yaojiang, Zhang Linxiu, Chang Fang, Liu Han, Tang Bin, Gao Qiufeng, Guan Hongyu, Nie Jingchun, Yang Jie, Bai Yu, Li Ying, Tang Lei, Yue Ai, Ru Tong
    2020, 38 (8):  1-67.  doi: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5560.2020.08.001
    Abstract ( 542 )   HTML ( 718 )   PDF (2216KB) ( 782 )   Save
    Since the late 20th century, educational research has continued to intersect with such disciplines as economics, medicine, psychology, and computer science. As typical multidisciplinary research methods, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have gradually become a key step in making developmental policies worldwide, especially in the fields of education and social policy. Since 2003, the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) have conducted nearly 300 RCTs in education in 44 countries around the world, whose empirical findings have been utilized to facilitate educational policies in developing countries such as South Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Owing to their enormous contribution to global poverty reduction, the founders of J-PAL also won the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics. Although a large number of international studies have corroborated the positive roles of RCTs in promoting educational output and raising the incomes of poor groups, similar research efforts in the field of targeted poverty alleviation in education in China underestimated. This paper is a comprehensive review of literature that involves more than 30 publicly available RCTs on targeted poverty alleviation in education from 2007 to 2019. It is found that the RCTs in education conducted in poor rural China focus on four areas: teachers and education, information technology and education, nutrition & health and education, as well as early childhood development. The overarching topic discussed in these four areas is the intergenerational trap of human capital in poor rural China, followed by the exploration of more cost-effective and feasible solutions to issues existing regarding rural education. We further summarize the development of applying RCTs in promoting quality rural education in poor areas in terms of its developmental pathway, status quo, and practical experiences, so as to provide operable ways for the implementers of rural education, data-based empirical support for the decision-makers, as well as effective strategies verified by RCTs for national designers of targeted poverty alleviation policy in education. In addition, this paper also introduces the application of quasi-experimental methods to facilitate making targeted poverty alleviation policies in education in situations where RCTs may not be applicable.
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    Cost-effectiveness Analysis in Randomized Controlled Trials: Methods and Practice in China’s Rural Education
    Nie Jingchun, Gao Qiufeng, Yang Jie, Guan Hongyu, Cai Jianhua
    2020, 38 (8):  68-91.  doi: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5560.2020.08.002
    Abstract ( 225 )   HTML ( 506 )   PDF (1019KB) ( 484 )   Save
    In recent years, scholars in the field of education have carried out a large number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and provided many evidence-based interventions to improve the academic performance and to increase enrollment rate from different perspectives. However, given limited resources, how can researchers compare among different options of interventions and choose the most effective plan? Such a question can be answered by conducting cost-effectiveness analysis. This paper hereby provides a detailed introduction to basic methods of cost-effectiveness analysis, including cost accounting methods and the interpretation of effectiveness. It also introduces a case to illustrate the steps of conducting a cost-effectiveness analysis. Further, the cost-effectiveness of RCTs in education conducted worldwide are summarized, which provide valuable implications for policy-makers to promote rural education in China. In conclusion, researchers suggest the cost-effectiveness of interventions should be included in the analysis of RCT results, so as to facilitate the comparisons among different projects and to provide more powerful evidence for policy-makers.
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    Opening Up the “Black Box” of Education Policy Research: Application of Theory-Based Impact Evaluation in Randomized Controlled Trial Studies
    Tang Lei, Ma Jing, Liu Han, Yue Ai, Bai Yu, Meng Chun, Ma Chengjun
    2020, 38 (8):  92-109.  doi: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5560.2020.08.003
    Abstract ( 300 )   HTML ( 289 )   PDF (1038KB) ( 525 )   Save
    Impact evalution aims to understand the impact of policies/interventions on the welfare of participants. The key is to establish a causal relationship between the two (what works) and to understand the mechanism of policies/interventions (why it works). Theory-based impact evaluation (TBIE) is widely believed to help answer the question of “why it works”. TBIE clarifies the intervention mechanisms by establishing a causal chain from input to output and then to impact, and using empirical data to test the validity of the theory and potential hypotheses that may play a role in the causal chain. This paper reviews and summarizes the core concepts and principles of TBIE, and uses examples to illustrate how to apply TBIE when conducting random controlled trials.
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    Randomized Controlled Trials and Its Policy Implication on Poverty Relief Globally
    Shi Rong, Shi Yaojiang, Bill Bikales, Ricardo Morel
    2020, 38 (8):  110-125.  doi: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5560.2020.08.004
    Abstract ( 255 )   HTML ( 124 )   PDF (790KB) ( 451 )   Save
    With increasing attention drawn to Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) after the announcement of the Nobel Prize winners in Economics Science 2019, this paper attempts to discuss the policy impact of RCTs and highlight its importance not only as an academic methodology but also as a useful policy tool. In this paper, four channels have been identified through which RCTs could help policy maker and development agencies in making their decisions. For each channel, detailed case studies are provided to further illustrate the impact of RCTs. The four channels discussed in the paper are 1) scaling up effective interventions, 2) adjusting programs to better allocate resources, 3) generating public goods and knowledge sharing, 4) institutionalizing evidence-based policy making.
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