Green, Judith, Roberts, Helen, Petticrew, Mark, Steinbach, Rebecca, Goodman, Anna, Jones, Alasdair 
ORCID: 0000-0002-4933-4023 and Edwards, Phil
(2015)
Integrating quasi-experimental and inductive designs in evaluation: a case study of the impact of free bus travel on public health.
Evaluation, 21 (4).
pp. 391-406.
ISSN 1356-3890
|
PDF
- Accepted Version
Download (691kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Evaluations of ‘natural experiments’ in public policy are typically considered ‘weak’ evidence. Challenges include: making credible claims for causal inference (internal validity); generalising beyond the case (external validity); and providing useful evidence for decision makers. In public health, where experimental evidence is encouraged by funders and enjoys a degree of rhetorical favour, in theory if not practice, current guidance for evaluating natural experiments focuses largely on methods for strengthening internal validity. Using a case study of the evaluation of free bus travel for young people in London, UK, we demonstrate a pragmatic approach to strengthening both internal and external validity in evaluations through integrating the logic of quasi-experimental methods with inductive qualitative analysis. Combining theoretical and inductive analysis in this way to address questions of policy interest through evaluations of natural experiments may be fruitful, and have methodological advantages over randomised designs.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/evaluation/journa... |
| Additional Information: | © 2015 Sage |
| Divisions: | Methodology LSE Cities |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HM Sociology |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Oct 2015 12:21 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Nov 2024 08:15 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/64159 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
Download Statistics
Download Statistics