A Proposal for A Randomized Experiment in Ghana

David Tannenwald, New Heights Youth, Power of Sport Summit, June 2010

Conflicting Views

Nelson Mandela Stephen Lewis

RoadmapI am proposing a randomized experiment in Ghana to evaluate sport-based development programs.

I. Roadmap

II. My vision for research in sport for development and peace (SDP)

III. The opportunity in Ghana

IV. Advantages and limitations

V. Next Steps

VI. Conclusion

PART ONE: MY VISION FOR RESEARCH IN SDP

The need for and virtues of randomized experiments

Two Main Lines of Inquiry

• Theory

1. Discussion, modeling, etc.

2. Case Studies

• Evidence

1. Case Studies

2. Observational Studies

3. Randomized Experiments

Randomized Experiments

1. How randomized experiments work

2. Chief benefits

3. Drawbacks

Qualifiers

1. I have not reviewed the entirety of the existing literature.

2. Many of my professors extolled the virtues of randomized experiments.

3. I am not suggesting randomized experiments instead of other lines of inquiry.

PART TWO: THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A

RANDOMIZED EXPERIMENT IN GHANA

The Existing Research Project

1. The research question(s)

2. Background (players, scope, my involvement, and other information)

3. The methodology

4. The status of the study

Relevance for SDP

1. The survey measures many of the outcomes that sport-based development programs aim to improve.

2. Consequently, if we were to coordinate interventions in a randomly selected set of communities, we would have what would be, to my knowledge, the largest SDP randomized experiment to date.

PART FOUR: ADVANTAGES & LIMITATIONS

Advantages & Limitations

• Advantages1. Methodology2. Instrument/research team in place3. High-need area4. Opportunity for multiple interventions5. Size

• Limitations/Obstacles1. Imperfect instrument2. Timing/Logistics3. Size

PART FIVE: NEXT STEPS

1. Design of interventions

2. Partners and funding

3. Research issues

4. Other

PART Six: Conclusion