Randomized controlled trials, or RCTs, can be an effective way of determining the true impact of interventions. It is a scientific approach to information gathering that includes a group receiving an intervention and a control group that does not. Randomization within the trial means there is minimal bias in the selection of participants, to allow true insights to be generated.
For development projects, they are not always a viable option. But when they are, they need to be carefully planned and prepared to ensure they can provide high quality results that effectively communicate why an intervention does or doesn't work — improving aid and development programs for the future.
Dr Tessa Hillgrove, a senior research adviser with The Fred Hollows Foundation, explained to Devex that in knowing “what works” in development practice, there are a range of sources of evidence that can be used. As part of this, RCTs are considered the highest form of evidence — the “gold standard” of understanding what works in development practice.