Randomizing Development

2020 ◽  
pp. 79-107
Author(s):  
Lant Pritchett
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Control Trial ◽  
National Development ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Important Argument ◽  
Social Treatment ◽  
Randomized Control ◽  
Cross National ◽  
Effective Programs

An important argument for the increased use of randomized control trial methods in development is that the evidence from these studies will encourage the uptake of effective programs and projects (both through discouraging ineffective projects and improving design of new projects) and this will lead to reduced poverty and improved human well-being. However, cross-national evidence shows that the four-fold transformation of national development, to higher productivity economies, to more responsive states, the more capable organizations and administration and to more equal social treatment produces gains in poverty and human well-being that are orders of magnitude bigger than the best that can be hoped from better programs. Arguments that RCT research is a good (much less “best”) investment depend on both believing in an implausibly low likelihood that non-RCT research can improve progress national development and believing in an implausibly large likelihood that RCT evidence improves outcomes.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Impact of Ethics of Yoga in the Psychological Health of College Students: A Randomized Control Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 995-1005
Author(s):  
Wen Xu ◽  
◽  
Itagi R Kumar ◽  
Thaiyar M Srinivasan
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Randomized Control Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
T Test ◽  
Ethical Principles ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Randomized Control ◽  
Group Comparisons

Background/Objectives: The foundational ethical principles of yoga have not been of focus and not widely known. This study was to evaluate the yoga ethics that could reduce the level of stress in college students. Methods/Statisticalanalysis :A randomized control trial was conducted. One hundred participants were randomly assigned to control group and experiment group with a duration of three months intervention and one month follow-up. The outcome measures of stress level were assessed through Bio-Well instrument. A parametric independent sample t-test for the between-group analyses and paired sample t-test for within-group analysis compared the means of two groups. Findings: There was a statistically significant reduction in the stress after the intervention (p<0.001) and follow up (p=0.035) between the group comparisons. The within-group comparisons showed high reduced in the level of stress after the intervention (p<0.001) and follow-up (p<0.01). Novelty: The current study provides preliminary evidence that the practice of ethical principles of Yama and Niyama effectively reduces the stress and may improve psychological health and well-being. Keywords: Yoga ethics; Yama; Niyama; Stress; Psychological wellbeing; BioWell

scholarly journals Effect of Meditation and Breathing Exercises on the Well-being of Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection under Institutional Isolation: A Randomized Control Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Kiran Mahendru ◽  
Anuja Pandit ◽  
Vishwajeet Singh ◽  
Nandan Choudhary ◽  
Anant Mohan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Control Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Quality Of Sleep ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Breathing Exercises ◽  
Falling Asleep ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Randomized Control

Objectives: The corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected every domain of human health be it physical or mental. The uncertainty of disease progression in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to major psychological and psychiatric concerns that should not be overlooked. The interventions should be directed to the vulnerable population to help them mitigate the stress and anxiety caused by the infection and isolation. We evaluated the effect of meditation and breathing exercises on the well-being of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection under institutional isolation. Materials and Methods: We conducted a randomized control trial on 84 subjects, 18 years and above, asymptomatic, or mildly symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected patients under institutional isolation. Subjects were randomly and equally divided into a control group and interventional group. We measured the depression, anxiety, and stress levels as well as quality of sleep in patients after 7 days of meditation and breathing exercises in the intervention group versus standard care in the control group. Results: Mediation and breathing exercises had a statistically significant effect on the depression level (P < 0.001), stress level (P = 0.004), and the quality of sleep [trouble falling asleep (P = 0.007), trouble staying asleep (P = 0.004), and feel tired after waking up in the morning (P = 0.003)]. Further, the positive effect of intervention on the level of anxiety in patients under isolation was also observed; however, the difference was not found to be statistically significant (P = 0.528). Conclusion: Meditation and breathing exercises have positive effects on depression, stress levels, and quality of sleep in COVID-19 positive patients under strict institutional isolation.

scholarly journals Development and pilot randomized control trial of a drama program to enhance well-being among older adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raeanne C. Moore ◽  
Elizabeth Straus ◽  
Sheena I. Dev ◽  
Steven M. Parish ◽  
Seema Sueko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Randomized Control Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Randomized Control ◽  
Pilot Randomized Control Trial

scholarly journals Video Intervention Therapy for primary caregivers in a child psychiatry unit: a randomized feasibility trial

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fanny Leyton ◽  
Marcia Olhaberry ◽  
Javier Morán ◽  
Cecilia De la Cerda ◽  
María José León ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Psychiatry ◽  
Randomized Control Trial ◽  
Primary Caregivers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Group Setting ◽  
Video Intervention ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Randomized Control

Abstract Background During child psychiatry hospitalization, working with the families or attachment figures is a challenge, most of the children who are admitted to these units come from multi-problem families, with limited research in this area. Video feedback (VF) interventions have proved to be a powerful resource to promote parental and child well-being in small children and has been used with parents with a psychiatric condition. Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF) is one of the parental abilities that can be improved with VF and could be especially important in coping with conflict and negative emotions in older children. The aim of this study is to implement Video Intervention Therapy (VIT) to enhance PRF in primary caregivers of inpatient psychiatric children. As there is no published research using VF with parents of children with severe psychopathology in a hospitalized context. This report, then, becomes a much needed pilot study providing evidence for a larger randomized control trial (RCT). Methods The study is a single-center, two-arm feasibility randomized control trial with a qualitative component. Block randomization was done to generate a 2:1 allocation, leaving more participants in the intervention group. The intervention comprises four modules; every module has both one video-recorded play session and one VIT session (in a group setting) per week. Evaluation of the caregivers included assessments of PRF and well-being, and child assessment included parent-ratings and clinician-ratings of symptomatology and general functioning. Results Thirty participants were randomized; eligibility and recruitment rate were 70.6% and 83.3%, respectively. The compliance-to-intervention rate was 85% in the VIT group and 90% in the control group. All participants completed entry evaluation and 90% at the 3-month follow-up. The intervention was acceptable to participants and feasible for therapists to deliver. Outcome data must be treated with caution due to the small numbers involved, yet indicate that the VIT may have a positive effect in improving parental and child mental health outcomes. Conclusions VIT for primary caregivers of child inpatient children was feasible to deliver and acceptable for participants, therapist, and the staff unit involved; there is sufficient evidence to undertake a full-scale effectiveness RCT. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.govNCT03374904. Registered on 14 December 2017

scholarly journals Digital Nudges for Screen Time Reduction: A Randomized Control Trial with Performance and Wellbeing Outcomes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Zimmermann ◽  
Michael Sobolev
Keyword(s):  
Screen Time ◽  
Randomized Control Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Causal Effects ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Time Limits ◽  
Increase Productivity ◽  
Randomized Control ◽  
Time Reduction ◽  
Objectively Measured

Many people want to reduce their smartphone usage to increase productivity and well-being, but fail to accomplish this goal. We conduct a randomized control trial with a student population (N=112) over three weeks to test the effectiveness of two widely available digital nudges for screen time reduction. Along with a tracking-only control condition, a passive digital nudge (i.e., grayscale mode) was compared to an active digital nudge (i.e., time limits). The passive nudge led to an immediate, significant reduction of objectively measured screen time compared to the control condition. Conversely, the active nudge led to a smaller and gradual screen time reduction. Those in the control condition, who simply tracked their usage, did not lower their screen time. As opposed to the popular belief that reducing screen time is beneficial, we found no immediate causal effects of reducing screen time on subjective well-being and academic performance.

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