Citation

Merrall ELC, Bird SM. Eval. Rev. 2009; 33(3): 257-280.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0193841X08330819

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Recent meta-analyses of drug-court studies recognized the poor methodological quality of the evaluations, with only a few being randomized. This article critiques the design of the randomized studies from a statistical perspective. Learning points are identified for future drug-court studies and are applicable to evaluations both of other specialist courts and of court-based interventions more generally. The specific issues covered are randomization, describing the intervention, and baseline characteristics; study outcomes, and sample size calculations; in-program and postprogram behavior, analysis plan, and presentation of results.