MORSEL: Why do we use CSpro?

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What is Randomization

Randomization is a core principle in the statistical theory of design of experiments. Its use was extensively promoted by R.A. Fisher in his book Statistical Methods for Research Workers. Randomization involves randomly allocating the experimental units across the treatment groups. Thus, if the experiment compares effect of treatment against a standard control group, chosen by a random process. Basically this idea came from medical field but some economist and Social scientist are also using it. This is best way to get sense, which is policy/scheme, is better for people. Randomized trials gives exact picture of cure and which cures work. Suppose we would like to see impact of positive incentive on schooling (absenteeism of student), so we started a plan to give some amount of money to mother of student, how would get 60% presence in school. But in the same time government/other NGO starts another program like Midday Meal scheme within the state aiming to reduce absenteeism. Now it will be very hard to know which experiment is going to affect absenteeism. However, in randomized trial we would choose treatment and control group randomly within the state. In this method, during experiment affect of Midday Meal scheme would be spread in both the treatment and control group. So, the difference between end line data between these two groups would be result of positive incentive. This method is widely accepted that randomized trials provide a clean and simple way of figuring out what causes what.

Are randomized trials practical? Our experience shows that by being creative, the methodology of randomized trials can be applied to answer a wide variety of important questions. Numerous studies such as these have now shown that randomized trials can improve our understanding of social situations and thereby help shape better policies to fight poverty. Our experience telling us that randomization reduces bias by equalizing other factors that have not been explicitly accounted for in the experimental design. Considerations of bias are of little concern to Bayesians, who recommend randomization because it produces ignorable designs. In design of experiments, frequentists prefer Completely Randomized Designs. Other experimental designs are used when a full randomization is not possible. These cases include experiments that involve blocking and experiments that have hard-to-change factors.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Why do we use CSpro?

CSpro software was developed by census department,

USA. It is available online and free. Anyone can use it and make templates according his/her questionnaire. Morsel used it for two survey; voter survey (in 35 districts of Uttar Pradesh) and Kosi River flood survey (5 districts of Bihar). With the help of this easy software, double entry and STATA, everyone can get a quality primary data.