This exercise helps students learn about and develop first-hand insights into the pros and cons of commonly employed approaches for causal inference and impact assessment. It involves analyzing data on effects of a hypothetical training programme using five approaches: cross-sectional comparison, pre-post comparison, difference-in-differences, matched sample analysis and randomized evaluation.
This exercise can be used for different audiences/purposes. The first is to teach students and practioners to think rigorously about evaluating the societal impact of their interventions. The second is to teach PhD students and researchers how to come up with appropriate empirical research designs for causal inference.
- Social Impact Assessment
- Program Evaluation
- Causal Inference
- Randomized Control Trials
- Economic Development
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Impact Investing
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Q31415