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ZQMS-ARC-REC-002
ASSIGNMENT COVER
REGION: Harare
PROGRAMME: INTAKE 27
MAILING ADDRESS:chinodakufaz@gmail.com
COURSE NAME:Survey Techniques and Experimental Design COURSE CODE: BSAM 306
ASSIGNMENT TITLE: Question 1 - A colleague suggests to you that only true experiments
can provide useful results in Science .What would you offer as defense for the role of quasi
experimental and non - experimental designs in the context of social science and define
-Quasi experimental design lack random assignment .but they test casual hypothesis .
-They identify a comparison group that is as similar as possible to the treatment group
-There are different techniques for creating a valid comparison group such as
Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD), Propensity Score Matching (PSM ) and
-A design whereby every single observation characteristics but the likelihood that the
-Propensity Score Matching ensures that the average characteristics of the treatment
and comparison group are similar , are deemed sufficiently to get an unbiased impact
estimate
*How to apply it
1-ensure representative sample survey eligible participants and non participants in the
intervention
-baseline data are preferred in this type of technique for calculating propensity score .
-the method is also used with endline data with variables not affected by the
intervention
variable
-there is need to exclude characteristics that may have been affected by the
intervention
-so it is best to use baseline data where available to estimate propensity score
-each member of the treatment group is then !matched to one or more members in the
comparison group
-it is done by matching each participant to the nearest neighbour non participant
-for validity it is important to compare observed values for participants and non
-if observation in propensity score is lower than the lowest observed value in the
-the same as if observation in propensity score is higher than the highest observed
-Characteristics of treatment group and comparison group are compared to test for
balance
- there will be no significant different in average observable characteristics between the
two groups
-the treatment and the comparison group are similar on observable groups
clean water .
-firstly calculate the difference between indicator of individual treatment and average
value for the matched comparison in individual , average out of all ithese differences .
Advantages
3- recalling is used for construction since baseline data is excluded for prey
intervention characteristics
Disadvantages
likelihood of participation
2 -there is bias if there are observed characteristics that affect participation and which
-there is use of a threshold criteria whereby they must be met before people can
-it is usually based on continuous variable assessment for all potential eligible for eg
- older women tend to be affected by breast cancer and older ones are the ones
How To Apply
-determine the margin around the threshold
-for a start a small margin can be set up so resulting treatment and comparison groups
-then if the matching is good the margin can be widened a little and recheck the
balance again
-it is a line drawn through the data points that represents the best fit between the
Advantages
1-It deals with non -observable characteristics more convincing than other quasi
Disadvantages
-it compares changes in outcome over time between treatment and comparison groups
to estimate an impact
-when applying it removes the difference in the outcome between treatment and
-also it uses other matching methods such ad RDD and PSM but without matching
-researchers need to test parallel trends assumptions that is the the trends resulting
between treatment group and comparison areas if they were similar before the
intervention .
How To Apply It
-identity the indicators of interest to be measured relevant to the interest that is being
evaluated .
-the difference in indicators values from before and after the intervention for the
treatment group are compared with some difference values for the comparison group .
-eg in order to identity the effects of a free food scheme on a nutritional status of
children , the mean difference for both treatment group and comparison group would
-children who participated in the intervention compared to those who did not
-then the intervention and comparison group will have been matched on key
characteristics using PSM approach to ensure similarities as possible .
*Advantages
5- it is simple
*Disadvantages
2- it takes long since researchers need to test parallel trends assumptions if they were
similar before .
Qn 2 - Outline the strength and weakness of the following techniques of data collection
Aswers
1-A survey
-a survey is usually an official examination done by a tasked trained group of people in
order to ascertain the condition , quantity and quality of something eg national crop
assessment
survey .
-Seriousness is needed to
carry out formal surveys
-good statistical significance
since are done by trained **Informal ones
enumerators .
-no standard type of
questions
Sources
Qn 2 a- 2d page 71-81
and R.M.Jingura
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