Inappropriate Comparisons as a Basis for Policy: Two Recent Examples from the Social Experiments

1981 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-399
Author(s):  
Gary Burtless ◽  
David Greenberg
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Housing Allowance ◽  
Program Outcomes ◽  
Statistical Adjustment ◽  
Social Experiments ◽  
Program Effects ◽  
Comparison Groups ◽  
Effort Reduction ◽  
Negative Income Tax

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the problem of inappropriate comparisons in evaluating social programs and the erroneous policy conclusions which can be derived from such comparisons. The paper examines two cases from the United States of America which fail to meet the criterion that comparison groups (if necessary after statistical adjustment) should be identical in all essential respects except in their exposure to the program. In the first of the two cases, involving the measurement of work-effort reduction in negative income tax (NIT) experiments, the inappropriate comparison was made in conducting a statistical analysis of program effects. In the second case, involving the analysis of changes in housing consumption in a housing allowance experiment, the statistical analysis of program effects appears valid, but the correctly measured program outcomes were themselves inappropriately used by policy-makers in drawing policy inferences. The conclusion draws out major lessons for policy analysis and policy-making.

Evaluations of the Effects of Sweden's Spanking Ban on Physical Child Abuse Rates: A Literature Review

1999 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 381-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Larzelere ◽  
Byron Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Physical Punishment ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Physical Child Abuse ◽  
National Surveys ◽  
Social Experiments ◽  
Pertinent Data ◽  
The Usa

Sweden's 1979 law banning corporal punishment by parents was welcomed by many as a needed policy to help reduce physical abuse of children. This study reviews the published empirical evidence relevant to that goal. Only seven journal articles with pertinent data were located. One study reported that the rate of physical child abuse was 49% higher in Sweden than in the USA, comparing its 1980 Swedish national survey with the average rates from two national surveys in the United States in 1975 and 1985. In contrast, a 1981 retrospective survey of university students suggested that the Swedish abuse rate had been 79% less than the American rate prior to the Swedish spanking ban. Some unpublished evidence suggests that Swedish rates of physical child abuse have remained high, although child abuse mortality rates have stayed low there. A recent Swedish report suggested that the spanking ban has made little change in problematic forms of physical punishment. The conclusion calls for more timely and rigorous evaluations of similar social experiments in the future.

Who Wins and Who Loses in the Provincial Courts of Appeal? A Statistical Analysis, 1920–1990

1994 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter McCormick
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Great Britain ◽  
Data Base ◽  
The United States ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Party Capability ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Appeal Courts ◽  
Different Levels

AbstractGiven the visibility and obvious importance of judicial power in the age of the Charter, it is important to develop the conceptual vocabulary for desribing and assessing this power. One such concept that has been applied to the study of appeal courts in the United States and Great Britain is “party capability”, a theory which suggests that different types of litigant will enjoy different levels of success as both appellant and respondent. Using a data base derived from the reported decisions of the provincial courts of appeal for the second and seventh year of each decade since the 1920s, this article applies party capability theory to the performance of the highest courts of the ten provinces; comparisons are attempted across regions and across time periods, as well as with the findings of similar studies of American and British courts.

scholarly journals COVID-19 In United States: Statistical Analysis and Inferences From the Empirical Data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nivedita Rethnakar
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Statistical Inference ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mortality Statistics ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This paper investigates the mortality statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic from the United States perspective. Using empirical data analysis and statistical inference tools, we bring out several exciting and important aspects of the pandemic, otherwise hidden. Specific patterns seen in demo- graphics such as race/ethnicity and age are discussed both qualitatively and quantitatively. We also study the role played by factors such as population density. Connections between COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases are also covered in detail. The temporal dynamics of the COVID-19 outbreak and the impact of vaccines in controlling the pandemic are also looked at with suf- ficient rigor. It is hoped that statistical inference such as the ones gathered in this paper would be helpful for better scientific understanding, policy prepa- ration and thus adequately preparing, should a similar situation arise in the future.

scholarly journals Multi-centre, randomised non-inferiority trial of early treatment versus expectant management of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants (the BeNeDuctus trial): statistical analysis plan

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Hundscheid ◽  
Rogier Donders ◽  
Wes Onland ◽  
Elisabeth M. W. Kooi ◽  
Daniel C. Vijlbrief ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Patent Ductus Arteriosus ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Pharmacological Treatment ◽  
Ductus Arteriosus ◽  
Expectant Management ◽  
The United States ◽  
Statistical Analysis Plan ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Patent Ductus

Abstract Background Controversy exists about the optimal management of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants. A persistent PDA is associated with neonatal mortality and morbidity, but causality remains unproven. Although both pharmacological and/or surgical treatment are effective in PDA closure, this has not resulted in an improved neonatal outcome. In most preterm infants, a PDA will eventually close spontaneously, hence PDA treatment potentially increases the risk of iatrogenic adverse effects. Therefore, expectant management is gaining interest, even in the absence of convincing evidence to support this strategy. Methods/design The BeNeDuctus trial is a multicentre, randomised, non-inferiority trial assessing early pharmacological treatment (24–72 h postnatal age) with ibuprofen versus expectant management of PDA in preterm infants in Europe. Preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 28 weeks and an echocardiographic-confirmed PDA with a transductal diameter of > 1.5 mm are randomly allocated to early pharmacological treatment with ibuprofen or expectant management after parental informed consent. The primary outcome measure is the composite outcome of mortality, and/or necrotizing enterocolitis Bell stage ≥ IIa, and/or bronchopulmonary dysplasia, all established at a postmenstrual age of 36 weeks. Secondary short-term outcomes are comorbidity and adverse events assessed during hospitalization and long-term neurodevelopmental outcome assessed at a corrected age of 2 years. This statistical analysis plan focusses on the short-term outcome and is written and submitted without knowledge of the data. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NTR5479. Registered on October 19, 2015, with the Dutch Trial Registry, sponsored by the United States National Library of Medicine Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02884219 (registered May 2016) and the European Clinical Trials Database EudraCT 2017-001376-28.

Selected weight management interventions for military populations in the United States: a narrative report

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Murray ◽  
Basil H Aboul-Enein ◽  
Joshua Bernstein ◽  
Joanna Kruk
Keyword(s):  
Military Personnel ◽  
The United States ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Program Outcomes ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
The Us ◽  
Obesity Interventions ◽  
Military Populations ◽  
Narrative Report

Overweight and obesity continues to be a significant public health burden in the US and particularly among military personnel. Although the US Department of Defense mandates standardized physical activity requirements for military members, incidence and prevalence of overweight and obesity among military personnel continue to increase. Each military department controls their own interventional strategies for physical fitness and weight control. However, unique challenges such as geographic transients, lack of central standardization and empirical efficacy data across military departments, and chronic stress associated with military service adversely affect program outcomes. This brief narrative report explores overweight and obesity interventions among military populations from 2006 to 2016 and includes programmatic reviews of eight overweight and obesity interventions: The Prevention of Obesity in Military Community; Health Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle Training Headquarters (H.E.A.L.T.H); ArmyMOVE!; L.I.F.E.; Look AHEAD; Nutrition-focused Wellness Coaching; Go for Green; and LE3AN. A majority of these interventions did not report significant weight loss 6 months post intervention, and did not mention a theoretical foundation within the interventions. Further research to examine the importance of theory-based programming is warranted to improve process and outcome objectives.

Abstract W P274: Characterizing The “Universe” Of Transitional Care Programs For Stroke Survivors In The United States

Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahshid Abir ◽  
Barbara G Vickrey ◽  
Paul Koegel ◽  
Joseph P Broderick ◽  
Robert Suter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transitional Care ◽  
Initial Step ◽  
The United States ◽  
Annual Number ◽  
Stroke Survivors ◽  
Fee For Service ◽  
Program Outcomes ◽  
Rehabilitation Care ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Program Components

This study’s purpose is to characterize the range of TC programs for stroke survivors in a national sample of healthcare facilities in the U.S., as an initial step toward ultimately associating those characteristics with TC program outcomes. Hospitals in the following networks were invited to complete an electronic survey: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s Neurological Emergencies Treatment Trials network and StrokeNet, the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines hospitals, and the Michigan Health & Hospital Association. The survey inquired whether the facilities have stroke TC programs, program description, number of patients seen annually, facility type, and healthcare context. Out of 82 respondents, 65 hospitals reported a TC program, and 17 did not have such programs. Respondents include facilities from all five U.S. geographic regions. The 42 facilities that reported the annual number of patients served, served between 48.0-1974.0 patients (median 426.0, inter-quantile range 245.0-840.0). Of the facilities that reported hospital type, 23 (57.5%) are academic, 7 (17.5%) are academic affiliates, and 10 (25%) are community. Of the 25 facilities that reported the healthcare setting in which the TC program is delivered, 12 (48%) are delivered in a fee-for-service, 6 (24%) in integrated delivery system, 3 (12%) in traditional primary care, and 1 (4%) in a patient-centered medical home. TC program components reported (in descending order of frequency) include: Support services, call-backs, transitional planning, inpatient physical rehabilitation, care coordination, neurology follow up, telemedicine, home visits, anytime access. Of the 61 facilities that provided information regarding the TC program components 33 (51%) have one, 15 (23%) have two, 8 (12%) have three, and 5 (8%) have four components. This survey found substantial heterogeneity in TC programs. A standardized definition of TC program components is not available, hence the necessary first step in studying comparative effectiveness of TC programs is building a taxonomy of TC program components. This will enable analysis of the most effective TC programs, and ultimately guide improving the TC experience and outcomes for stroke survivors.

Quite Like Ourselves

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Archer
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
World War I ◽  
New World ◽  
Military Training ◽  
The United States ◽  
World War ◽  
Social Experiments ◽  
American Interest ◽  
English Speaking

In the United States, there was substantial opposition to entering World War I, and yet conscription was introduced more quickly than in any other English-speaking country. In Australia, opposition to entry was minimal, but opposition to conscription was so great that its introduction was blocked. The period before US entry into the war also saw an unusual surge of American interest in Australian social experiments—including experiments with Compulsory Industrial Arbitration and Compulsory Military Training—which reached a peak in the wake of a unique Australian referendum on conscription. This essay examines the extent of this surge of transnational interest, the reason for it, and its possible effects, before considering why the outcome of the conflict over conscription was so different in these two similar historically liberal New World societies.

An Analysis of Unmanned Aircraft Registration Effectiveness

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-66
Author(s):  
Ronald Pentz ◽  
He (Herman) Tang
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ◽  
Courts Of Appeals ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Difficult Time ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Rapid Pace

This article describes how small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) are growing at a rapid pace. They are inexpensive and widely available for both hobbyist and commercial use. However, with this rapid growth, regulations are having a difficult time keeping pace to safely incorporate them into the United States National Airspace. Recent regulations requiring the registration of all sUAS have been overturned by the United States Courts of Appeals. This research provides a statistical analysis of the effectiveness of the registration regulation in the reduction of unauthorized and careless sUAS operation prior to being overturned by the courts. Statistical analysis including descriptive statistics and chi square hypothesis tests were used to analyze more than 3,000 reported unauthorized and careless events. The findings show a significant difference in events pre-registration and post registration.

Food Stamp Program Effects on Availability Of Food Nutrients for Low Income Families In the Southern Region of the United States

1979 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Keith Scearce ◽  
Robert B. Jensen
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Low Income ◽  
The United States ◽  
Southern Region ◽  
Food Stamp ◽  
Food Stamp Program ◽  
Nutritional Improvement ◽  
Program Effects ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
Low Income Households

The food stamp program, as enacted into law in 1964, was intended to improve the diet of low income households, but whether the program resulted in a nutritional improvement remains a controversial question. Several studies have evaluated the nutritional impact of the food stamp program on participant households. In general, the study findings do not conclusively resolve the question of nutritional improvement for participant families. Studies of California families showed some nutritional improvements among food stamp recipients in comparison with nonrecipients [7, 8]. A study in Pennsylvania showed no nutritional improvements, except in temporary periods of cash shortage [9].

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