NCJ Number
243084
Journal
Journal of Experimental Criminology Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2012 Pages: 255-270
Date Published
September 2012
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article discusses lessons learned from implementing a randomized trial in a community setting so that other randomized trials can anticipate and prevent some of the challenges this research encountered.
Abstract
To disseminate lessons learned from implementing a randomized trial in a community setting so that other randomized trials can anticipate and prevent some of the challenges the study encountered. A discussion of common challenges to the implementation of randomized trials and how the structure of this trial mitigated some of these, and a description of unanticipated challenges encountered and how they were addressed. While the study setup the randomized trial in a way that avoided some of the "pitfalls" of trials identified in the literature, the study still encountered challenges that was not anticipated. The study undertook corrective actions to address these, and the caseflow of the trial improved. All the lessons from the trial are variants of the same issue: ensuring sufficient buy-in among the program staff and community stakeholders. Even though it was thought one had engaged in extensive activities to promote buy-in, it turned out that these efforts were not adequate. Trials would benefit from developing an outreach plan that targets individuals from across the organizational chart of involved organizations, is ongoing, and actively solicits concerns from stakeholders so that these can be addressed in a timely fashion. These activities represent a sizable amount of effort and need to be incorporated into project budgets. Abstract published by arrangement with Springer.