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What Isn't There Matters: Attrition and Randomized Controlled Trials
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What Isn't There Matters: Attrition and Randomized Controlled Trials

Home Visiting Programs OPRE Report #2014-49
Published: Aug 29, 2014
Publisher: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation
Human Services Early Childhood Systematic Evidence Reviews Policy Analysis

Associated Project

Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness Review

Time frame: 2009-2030

Prepared for:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families

Authors

Sarah A. Avellar

Timothy Silman

A randomized controlled trial (RCT) offers a highly credible way to evaluate the effect of a program. However, a strong design can be offset by weaknesses in planning or execution. One common problem that weakens the conclusions of RCTs is attrition, or missing data. This brief describes what attrition is, why it matters, and how it factors into the study ratings in the HomVEE review. 

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