David Torgerson
Biographic Data
| ID | 5691593 |
|---|---|
| NAME | David Torgerson |
| GIVEN NAMES | David |
| FAMILY NAME | Torgerson |
| SIGNATURE | TORGERSON D |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of York |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-1667-4275 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 10 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 40 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 10 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1997 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Does attrition introduce bias in randomised trials
In undertaking randomised controlled trials (RCTs) attrition can be a problem, as it may introduce bias post randomisation if the characteristics of those lost to follow-up are materially different between groups. Attrition bias in RCTs is based on theory and there is relatively little empirical evidence. One approach to assess whether attrition is introducing bias is to undertake a meta-analysis of measured covariates comparing group values as r…
Enhancing Pragmatic Language skills for Young children with Social communication difficulties (E-PLAYS-2) trial
v1.1 19th June 2023
Collection of Delinquent Fines
The collection of delinquent fines is a vast and ongoing public administration challenge. In the United Kingdom, unpaid fines amount to more than 500 million pounds. Managing noncompliant accounts and dispatching bailiffs to collect fines in person is costly. This paper reports the results of a large randomized controlled trial, led by the UK Cabinet Office's Behavioural Insights Team, which was designed to test the effectiveness of mobile phone …
Parable of Two Agencies, One of Which Randomizes
This article examines the design of evaluations in settings where there is a choice as to how an intervention is to be introduced and evaluated. It uses data from a supervision program for offenders on probation in the UK (Bruce and Hollin forthcoming) that had been indicated by a pilot evaluation in one probation area to merit wider-scale implementation and evaluation. For the remaining two probation areas in the region, a randomized controlled …
Conceptual, Design, and Statistical Complications Associated with Participant Preference
Participants in randomized trials sometimes prefer to be assigned to one arm rather than another. While randomization aims to ensure that participants with different preferences are spread equally among the arms of the trials, it cannot always address the possible effects of participant preferences on outcomes, compliance, and attrition. This paper discusses the conceptual, design, and statistical complications associated with preference effects …
Reporting Methodological Items in Randomized Experiments in Political Science
This article discusses the arguments for using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) procedures in political science field experiments, with the aim of improving the clarity and transparency of research work and reducing the possibility of bias. The article reviews the background to CONSORT, which is increasingly required for carrying out and reporting trials in healthcare and other disciplines. It sets out the main elements of…
A comparison of randomised controlled trials in health and education
Health care and educational trials face similar methodological challenges. Methodological reviews of health care trials have shown that a significant proportion have methodological flaws. Whether or not educational trials have a similar proportion of poor‐quality trials is unknown. The authors undertook a methodological comparison between health care and educational trials published since 1990. The authors aimed (1) to assess whether the quality …
Avoiding Bias in Randomised Controlled Trials in Educational Research
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are often seen as the ‘gold standard’ of evaluative research. However, whilst randomisation will ensure comparable groups, trials are still vulnerable to a range of biases that can undermine their internal validity. In this paper we describe a number of common threats to the internal validity of RCTs and methods of countering them. We highlight a number of examples from randomised trials in education and health…
The Need for Randomised Controlled Trials in Educational Research
This paper argues for more randomised controlled trials in educational research. Educational researchers have largely abandoned the methodology they helped to pioneer. This gold-standard methodology should be more widely used as it is an appropriate and robust research technique. Without subjecting curriculum innovations to a RCT then potentially harmful educational initiatives could be visited upon the nation's children
Cost effectiveness of a prize draw on response to a postal questionnaire
Study sample Power calculations were used to determine the sample size. A 1300-patient sample would demonstrate a 10% absolute difference (0.01 significance, 90% power), and have an evens chance of identifying a 5% difference at the 0.05 significance level. A total of 1,307 patients were eligible for inclusion in the study. A total of 654 patients were randomly included in the intervention group, and 653 were randomly allocated to the control gro…
Collection of Delinquent Fines
The collection of delinquent fines is a vast and ongoing public administration challenge. In the United Kingdom, unpaid fines amount to more than 500 million pounds. Managing noncompliant accounts and dispatching bailiffs to collect fines in person is costly. This paper reports the results of a large randomized controlled trial, led by the UK Cabinet Office's Behavioural Insights Team, which was designed to test the effectiveness of mobile phone …
The Need for Randomised Controlled Trials in Educational Research
This paper argues for more randomised controlled trials in educational research. Educational researchers have largely abandoned the methodology they helped to pioneer. This gold-standard methodology should be more widely used as it is an appropriate and robust research technique. Without subjecting curriculum innovations to a RCT then potentially harmful educational initiatives could be visited upon the nation's children
A comparison of randomised controlled trials in health and education
Health care and educational trials face similar methodological challenges. Methodological reviews of health care trials have shown that a significant proportion have methodological flaws. Whether or not educational trials have a similar proportion of poor‐quality trials is unknown. The authors undertook a methodological comparison between health care and educational trials published since 1990. The authors aimed (1) to assess whether the quality …
Reporting Methodological Items in Randomized Experiments in Political Science
This article discusses the arguments for using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) procedures in political science field experiments, with the aim of improving the clarity and transparency of research work and reducing the possibility of bias. The article reviews the background to CONSORT, which is increasingly required for carrying out and reporting trials in healthcare and other disciplines. It sets out the main elements of…
Avoiding Bias in Randomised Controlled Trials in Educational Research
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are often seen as the ‘gold standard’ of evaluative research. However, whilst randomisation will ensure comparable groups, trials are still vulnerable to a range of biases that can undermine their internal validity. In this paper we describe a number of common threats to the internal validity of RCTs and methods of countering them. We highlight a number of examples from randomised trials in education and health…
Cost effectiveness of a prize draw on response to a postal questionnaire
Study sample Power calculations were used to determine the sample size. A 1300-patient sample would demonstrate a 10% absolute difference (0.01 significance, 90% power), and have an evens chance of identifying a 5% difference at the 0.05 significance level. A total of 1,307 patients were eligible for inclusion in the study. A total of 654 patients were randomly included in the intervention group, and 653 were randomly allocated to the control gro…
Cost effectiveness of a prize draw on response to a postal questionnaire
Study sample Power calculations were used to determine the sample size. A 1300-patient sample would demonstrate a 10% absolute difference (0.01 significance, 90% power), and have an evens chance of identifying a 5% difference at the 0.05 significance level. A total of 1,307 patients were eligible for inclusion in the study. A total of 654 patients were randomly included in the intervention group, and 653 were randomly allocated to the control gro…
The Need for Randomised Controlled Trials in Educational Research
This paper argues for more randomised controlled trials in educational research. Educational researchers have largely abandoned the methodology they helped to pioneer. This gold-standard methodology should be more widely used as it is an appropriate and robust research technique. Without subjecting curriculum innovations to a RCT then potentially harmful educational initiatives could be visited upon the nation's children
Avoiding Bias in Randomised Controlled Trials in Educational Research
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are often seen as the ‘gold standard’ of evaluative research. However, whilst randomisation will ensure comparable groups, trials are still vulnerable to a range of biases that can undermine their internal validity. In this paper we describe a number of common threats to the internal validity of RCTs and methods of countering them. We highlight a number of examples from randomised trials in education and health…
A comparison of randomised controlled trials in health and education
Health care and educational trials face similar methodological challenges. Methodological reviews of health care trials have shown that a significant proportion have methodological flaws. Whether or not educational trials have a similar proportion of poor‐quality trials is unknown. The authors undertook a methodological comparison between health care and educational trials published since 1990. The authors aimed (1) to assess whether the quality …
Parable of Two Agencies, One of Which Randomizes
This article examines the design of evaluations in settings where there is a choice as to how an intervention is to be introduced and evaluated. It uses data from a supervision program for offenders on probation in the UK (Bruce and Hollin forthcoming) that had been indicated by a pilot evaluation in one probation area to merit wider-scale implementation and evaluation. For the remaining two probation areas in the region, a randomized controlled …
Conceptual, Design, and Statistical Complications Associated with Participant Preference
Participants in randomized trials sometimes prefer to be assigned to one arm rather than another. While randomization aims to ensure that participants with different preferences are spread equally among the arms of the trials, it cannot always address the possible effects of participant preferences on outcomes, compliance, and attrition. This paper discusses the conceptual, design, and statistical complications associated with preference effects …
Reporting Methodological Items in Randomized Experiments in Political Science
This article discusses the arguments for using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) procedures in political science field experiments, with the aim of improving the clarity and transparency of research work and reducing the possibility of bias. The article reviews the background to CONSORT, which is increasingly required for carrying out and reporting trials in healthcare and other disciplines. It sets out the main elements of…
Collection of Delinquent Fines
The collection of delinquent fines is a vast and ongoing public administration challenge. In the United Kingdom, unpaid fines amount to more than 500 million pounds. Managing noncompliant accounts and dispatching bailiffs to collect fines in person is costly. This paper reports the results of a large randomized controlled trial, led by the UK Cabinet Office's Behavioural Insights Team, which was designed to test the effectiveness of mobile phone …
Enhancing Pragmatic Language skills for Young children with Social communication difficulties (E-PLAYS-2) trial
v1.1 19th June 2023
Does attrition introduce bias in randomised trials
In undertaking randomised controlled trials (RCTs) attrition can be a problem, as it may introduce bias post randomisation if the characteristics of those lost to follow-up are materially different between groups. Attrition bias in RCTs is based on theory and there is relatively little empirical evidence. One approach to assess whether attrition is introducing bias is to undertake a meta-analysis of measured covariates comparing group values as r…
Medicine (7 works) · Psychology (7 works) · Randomized controlled trial (5 works) · Computer Science (4 works) · Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life (4 works) · Meta-analysis and systematic reviews (4 works) · Advanced Causal Inference Techniques (3 works) · Political science (3 works) · Sample (material) (3 works) · Sociology (3 works)