Enhancing Agricultural Extension Programs: A Practical Guide to Designing and Implementing Randomized Controlled Trials

Evidence-based practices in agricultural extension programs must be guided by precise evaluation strategies and reliable data. Methods like randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are vital for assessing specific program interventions. However, not all studies use experimental designs, and their quality...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Amin ABU-ALSOUD, Ameur Mehrez, Houcine Bichni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: An-Najah National University 2024-10-01
Series:مجلة جامعة النجاح للأبحاث العلوم الطبيعية
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.najah.edu/media/journals/full_texts/2_vm7KMJ5.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849339647291817984
author Amin ABU-ALSOUD
Ameur Mehrez
Houcine Bichni
author_facet Amin ABU-ALSOUD
Ameur Mehrez
Houcine Bichni
author_sort Amin ABU-ALSOUD
collection DOAJ
description Evidence-based practices in agricultural extension programs must be guided by precise evaluation strategies and reliable data. Methods like randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are vital for assessing specific program interventions. However, not all studies use experimental designs, and their quality varies, as noted in a 2010 World Bank study. RCTs, known for providing robust impact assessments, involve complex steps and are applied in various fields. This guide focuses specifically on RCTs used for agricultural extensions; a topic covered less often than clinical trials. More precisely, this guide provides (1) definitions and key steps for RCTs, (2) a simplified RCTs study design methodology, (3) an exploration of challenges and mitigation, and (4) a summary of relevant RCTs studies in extensions. This guide is formulated to enhance the present understanding of RCTs and elaborate on the ways to use them in their application in agricultural research. Furthermore, the goal here is to make sure that our policies and methods are presented with solid evidence. This approach is meant to encourage the implementation of agricultural practices that are not only more effective but also sustainable.
format Article
id doaj-art-c7e043a207014f0299cb6ae3062450b2
institution Kabale University
issn 1727-2114
2311-8865
language English
publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher An-Najah National University
record_format Article
series مجلة جامعة النجاح للأبحاث العلوم الطبيعية
spelling doaj-art-c7e043a207014f0299cb6ae3062450b22025-08-20T03:44:04ZengAn-Najah National Universityمجلة جامعة النجاح للأبحاث العلوم الطبيعية1727-21142311-88652024-10-0139210111610.35552/anujr.a.39.2.2319Enhancing Agricultural Extension Programs: A Practical Guide to Designing and Implementing Randomized Controlled TrialsAmin ABU-ALSOUD0Ameur Mehrez1Houcine Bichni2Higher School of Agriculture of Kef (ESAK), University of Jendouba, Tunisia.Higher School of Agriculture of Kef (ESAK), University of Jendouba, Tunisia.National Institute for Agricultural Research of Tunisia (INRAT), University of Carthage, TunisiaEvidence-based practices in agricultural extension programs must be guided by precise evaluation strategies and reliable data. Methods like randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are vital for assessing specific program interventions. However, not all studies use experimental designs, and their quality varies, as noted in a 2010 World Bank study. RCTs, known for providing robust impact assessments, involve complex steps and are applied in various fields. This guide focuses specifically on RCTs used for agricultural extensions; a topic covered less often than clinical trials. More precisely, this guide provides (1) definitions and key steps for RCTs, (2) a simplified RCTs study design methodology, (3) an exploration of challenges and mitigation, and (4) a summary of relevant RCTs studies in extensions. This guide is formulated to enhance the present understanding of RCTs and elaborate on the ways to use them in their application in agricultural research. Furthermore, the goal here is to make sure that our policies and methods are presented with solid evidence. This approach is meant to encourage the implementation of agricultural practices that are not only more effective but also sustainable.https://journals.najah.edu/media/journals/full_texts/2_vm7KMJ5.pdfagricultural extensionimpact evaluationrandomized controlled trialresearch methodsrandomization
spellingShingle Amin ABU-ALSOUD
Ameur Mehrez
Houcine Bichni
Enhancing Agricultural Extension Programs: A Practical Guide to Designing and Implementing Randomized Controlled Trials
مجلة جامعة النجاح للأبحاث العلوم الطبيعية
agricultural extension
impact evaluation
randomized controlled trial
research methods
randomization
title Enhancing Agricultural Extension Programs: A Practical Guide to Designing and Implementing Randomized Controlled Trials
title_full Enhancing Agricultural Extension Programs: A Practical Guide to Designing and Implementing Randomized Controlled Trials
title_fullStr Enhancing Agricultural Extension Programs: A Practical Guide to Designing and Implementing Randomized Controlled Trials
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing Agricultural Extension Programs: A Practical Guide to Designing and Implementing Randomized Controlled Trials
title_short Enhancing Agricultural Extension Programs: A Practical Guide to Designing and Implementing Randomized Controlled Trials
title_sort enhancing agricultural extension programs a practical guide to designing and implementing randomized controlled trials
topic agricultural extension
impact evaluation
randomized controlled trial
research methods
randomization
url https://journals.najah.edu/media/journals/full_texts/2_vm7KMJ5.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT aminabualsoud enhancingagriculturalextensionprogramsapracticalguidetodesigningandimplementingrandomizedcontrolledtrials
AT ameurmehrez enhancingagriculturalextensionprogramsapracticalguidetodesigningandimplementingrandomizedcontrolledtrials
AT houcinebichni enhancingagriculturalextensionprogramsapracticalguidetodesigningandimplementingrandomizedcontrolledtrials