The Internal Validity of the School-Level Comparative Interrupted Time Series Design: Evidence from Four New Within-Study Comparisons

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Bibliographic Details
Title: The Internal Validity of the School-Level Comparative Interrupted Time Series Design: Evidence from Four New Within-Study Comparisons
Language: English
Authors: Sims, Sam (ORCID 0000-0002-5585-8202), Anders, Jake (ORCID 0000-0003-0930-2884), Zieger, Laura
Source: Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness. 2022 15(4):876-897.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 22
Publication Date: 2022
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Validity, Comparative Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Intervention, Evaluation Methods, Institutional Characteristics, Outcomes of Education, Elementary Secondary Education, Foreign Countries, Databases, Student Records, Teaching Methods, Mathematics Achievement
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom (England)
DOI: 10.1080/19345747.2022.2051652
ISSN: 1934-5747
1934-5739
Abstract: Comparative interrupted time series (CITS) designs evaluate impact by modeling the relative deviation from trends among a treatment and comparison group after an intervention. The broad applicability of the design means it is widely used in education research. Like all non-experimental evaluation methods however, the internal validity of a given CITS evaluation depends on assumptions that cannot be directly verified. We provide an empirical test of the internal validity of CITS by conducting four within-study comparisons of school-level interventions previously evaluated using randomized controlled trials. Our estimate of bias across these four studies is 0.03 school-level (or 0.01 pupil-level) standard deviations. The results suggest well-conducted CITS evaluations of similar school-level education interventions are likely to display limited bias.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2023
Accession Number: EJ1367853
Database: ERIC
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Description
Abstract:Comparative interrupted time series (CITS) designs evaluate impact by modeling the relative deviation from trends among a treatment and comparison group after an intervention. The broad applicability of the design means it is widely used in education research. Like all non-experimental evaluation methods however, the internal validity of a given CITS evaluation depends on assumptions that cannot be directly verified. We provide an empirical test of the internal validity of CITS by conducting four within-study comparisons of school-level interventions previously evaluated using randomized controlled trials. Our estimate of bias across these four studies is 0.03 school-level (or 0.01 pupil-level) standard deviations. The results suggest well-conducted CITS evaluations of similar school-level education interventions are likely to display limited bias.
ISSN:1934-5747
1934-5739
DOI:10.1080/19345747.2022.2051652