Twenty-six assumptions that have to be met if single random assignment experiments are to warrant “gold standard” status: A commentary on Deaton and Cartwright

Understanding and misunderstanding randomized controlled trials

Deaton, A., & Cartwright, N. (2018) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.12.005 · Cited by 1,841 · see citing works

Beyond Experiments

Diener, E., Northcott, R., Zyphur, M. J., & West, S. G. (2022) · Perspectives on Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/17456916211037670 · Cited by 157 · see citing works

Alternative causal inference methods in population health research: Evaluating tradeoffs and triangulating evidence

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Should the Randomistas (Continue to) Rule?

Ravallion, M. D. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.003.0003 · Cited by 62 · see citing works

Common Methodological Problems in Randomized Controlled Trials of Preventive Interventions

Steeger, C. M., Buckley, P. R., Pampel, F. C., Gust, C. J., & Hill, K. G. (2021) · Prevention Science · doi:10.1007/s11121-021-01263-2 · Cited by 56 · see citing works

Reflections on Randomized Control Trials

Deaton, A., & Cartwright, N. D. (2018) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.04.046 · Cited by 48 · see citing works

Randomized Control Trials in the Field of Development

Bédécarrats, F., Guérin, I., & Roubaud, F. (2020) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.001.0001 · Cited by 48 · see citing works

A Graphical Catalog of Threats to Validity

Matthay, E. C., & Glymour, M. M. (2020) · Epidemiology · doi:10.1097/ede.0000000000001161 · Cited by 41 · see citing works

Evidence triangulation in health research

Gutierrez, S., Glymour, M. M., & Smith, G. D. (2025) · European Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1007/s10654-024-01194-6 · Cited by 39 · see citing works

Randomizing Development

Pritchett, L. H. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.003.0004 · Cited by 28 · see citing works

Ethics of RCTs

Abramowicz, M., & Szafarz, A. (2019) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.003.0012 · Cited by 34 · see citing works

RCTs in Development Economics, Their Critics and Their Evolution

Ogden, T. N. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.003.0006 · Cited by 26 · see citing works

The necessity of construct and external validity for deductive causal inference

Esterling, K., Brady, D., & Schwitzgebel, E. (2025) · Journal of Causal Inference · doi:10.1515/jci-2024-0002 · Cited by 27 · see citing works

Using Experimental Designs to Study Entrepreneurship Education: A Historical Overview, Critical Evaluation of Current Practices in the Field, and Directions for Future Research

Englis, B. G., & Frederiks, A. J. (2023) · Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy · doi:10.1177/25151274231161102 · Cited by 28 · see citing works

Introduction: Randomization in the Tropics Revisited, a Theme and Eleven Variations

Deaton, A. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.003.0002 · Cited by 21 · see citing works

The Rhetorical Superiority of Poor Economics

Labrousse, A. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.003.0010 · Cited by 20 · see citing works

A Glass Half Full and Half Empty: The State of the Science in Early Childhood Prevention and Intervention Research

Fisher, P. A., Barker, T. V., & Blaisdell, K. N. (2020) · Annual Review of Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-devpsych-121318-084958 · Cited by 20 · see citing works

How Mixed-Methods Research Can Improve the Policy Relevance of Impact Evaluations

Barnow, B. S., Pandey, S. K., & Luo, Q. (2024) · Evaluation Review · doi:10.1177/0193841x241227480 · Cited by 22 · see citing works

Are the “Randomistas” Evaluators?

Picciotto, R. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.003.0011 · Cited by 18 · see citing works

Complex adaptive interventions: The challenge ahead for instructed second language acquisition research

Hiver, P. V., & Nagle, C. (2024) · Annual Review of Applied Linguistics · doi:10.1017/s0267190524000060 · Cited by 16 · see citing works

The Set of Assumptions Randomized Control Trials Make and Their Implications for the Role of Such Experiments in Evidence‐Based Child and Adolescent Development Research

Wadhwa, M., & Cook, T. D. (2019) · New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development · doi:10.1002/cad.20313 · Cited by 16 · see citing works

The effectiveness of psychological interventions in elite sport: methodological issues and opportunities to gather evidence

Bernier, M., Bagot, P., Sondt, N., Levillain, G., Vacher, P., Doron, J., Martinent, G., Fournier, J., & Kermarrec, G. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1516760 · Cited by 14 · see citing works

From Efficacy to Effectiveness: Evaluating Psychedelic Randomized Controlled Trials for Trustworthy Evidence‐Based Policy and Practice

Schenberg, E. E. (2025) · Pharmacology Research & Perspectives · doi:10.1002/prp2.70097 · Cited by 14 · see citing works

Decision-based models of the implementation of interventions in systems of healthcare: Implementation outcomes and intervention effectiveness in complex service environments

Parolini, A., Tan, W. W., & Shlonsky, A. (2019) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0223129 · Cited by 15 · see citing works

Preventing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Youth: Integrative Data Analysis of Crossover Impacts of the Coping Power Preventive Intervention

McDaniel, H. L., Budavari, A. C., Tonigan, A. T., Michael, A. E., West, S. G., Gottfredson, N. C., Powell, N. P., Qu, L., Saavedra, L. M., Yaros, A., et al. (2025) · JAACAP Open · doi:10.1016/j.jaacop.2025.01.005 · Cited by 9 · see citing works

Epilogue: Randomization and Social Policy Evaluation Revisited

Heckman, J. J. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.003.0014 · Cited by 11 · see citing works

Introduction. What works? And for whom?

Horwitz, R. I., & Singer, B. H. (2018) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.05.013 · Cited by 9 · see citing works

Need for a nutrition-specific scientific paradigm for research quality improvement

Flanagan, A., Bradfield, J., Kohlmeier, M., & Ray, S. (2023) · BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health · doi:10.1136/bmjnph-2023-000650 · Cited by 8 · see citing works

Microfinance RCTs in Development

Bédécarrats, F., Guérin, I., & Roubaud, F. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.003.0009 · Cited by 9 · see citing works

“Randomistas”: A new development economics

Kapeliushnikov, R. (2023) · Voprosy Ekonomiki · doi:10.32609/0042-8736-2023-6-5-35 · Cited by 6 · see citing works

Distributional moderation analysis: Unpacking moderation effects in intervention research

Wiedermann, W., Reinke, W. M., & Herman, K. C. (2024) · Journal of School Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jsp.2024.101399 · Cited by 5 · see citing works

Trials and Tribulations

Spears, D., Ban, R., & Cumming, O. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.003.0008 · Cited by 6 · see citing works

Editors’ Introduction: Controversies around RCT in Development

Bédécarrats, F., Guérin, I., & Roubaud, F. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.003.0001 · Cited by 21 · see citing works

The Disruptive Power of RCTs

Morduch, J. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.003.0005 · Cited by 4 · see citing works

Causality in Policy Studies

Damonte, A., & Negri, F. (2023) · Texts in quantitative political analysis · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-12982-7 · Cited by 3 · see citing works

Causal Inference and Policy Evaluation from Case Studies Using Bayesian Process Tracing

Bennett, A. (2023) · Texts in Quantitative Political Analysis · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-12982-7_8 · Cited by 3 · see citing works

Is the Timing of Eating Relevant for Weight Loss?

Flanagan, A. (2025) · Proceedings of the Nutrition Society · doi:10.1017/s0029665124007547 · Cited by 2 · see citing works

Heterogeneity of Treatment Outcomes Across Therapists and Sites in a Randomized Multicentre Psychotherapy Trial

Petter, J., Schumacher, L., Echterhoff, J., Klein, J. P., Schramm, E., Härter, M. C., Hautzinger, M., & Kriston, L. (2025) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.70087 · Cited by 3 · see citing works

Reducing the Knowledge Gap in Global Health Delivery

Garchitorena, A., Murray, M. B., Hedt‐Gauthier, B., Farmer, P. E., & Bonds, M. H. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.003.0007 · Cited by 4 · see citing works

Author Reply to “Placebo Trials in Orthopaedic Surgery” and “Review of Randomized Placebo‐Controlled Trials”

Sochacki, K. R., Dong, D., Harris, J. D., Mather, R. C. “., Nwachukwu, B. U., Nho, S. J., & Cote, M. P. (2020) · Arthroscopy The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery · doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2020.08.017 · Cited by 3 · see citing works

Kausale Inferenz in der Versorgungsforschung: Konzepte, Methoden und Anwendungsperspektiven

Demirer, I., Schmitt, J. M., Vogt, V., Grill, E., Härter, M. C., Hoffmann, W. U., & Pfaff, H. (2025) · Das Gesundheitswesen · doi:10.1055/a-2765-8811 · Cited by 2 · see citing works

Process Tracing for Program Evaluation

Bennett, A. F. (2022) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108688253.010 · Cited by 2 · see citing works

Comparing type 1 and type 2 error rates of different tests for heterogeneous treatment effects

Nestler, S., & Salditt, M. (2024) · Behavior Research Methods · doi:10.3758/s13428-024-02371-x · Cited by 2 · see citing works

Effect of north, south, east, west on the attractiveness of products and services: extension of country of origin to cardinal directions

Kato, T. (2024) · Humanities and Social Sciences Communications · doi:10.1057/s41599-024-03808-6 · Cited by 2 · see citing works

Re-conceptualizing SMART designs as a hybrid of randomized and regression discontinuity designs: opportunities, cautions

Yeaton, W. H. (2023) · International Journal of Research & Method in Education · doi:10.1080/1743727x.2023.2220649 · Cited by 1 · see citing works

Existenzielle phänomenologische Forschung

Churchill, S. D., & Smith, A. F. (2023) · Journal für Psychologie · doi:10.30820/0942-2285-2023-1-82 · Cited by 1 · see citing works

Using Priors in Experimental Design

Vivalt, E. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.003.0013

Interviews

(2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.003.0015

List of Tables

(2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.002.0007

List of Illustrations

(2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.002.0006

Copyright Page

(2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865360.002.0003

Mapping the royal road to science: Towards a heuristic for interpreting experimental evidencePreprint

Gruijters, S. L. K. (2023) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/7d69h

Fair Accountability in the Context of Evidence-Based Education

Joyce, K. E. (2023) · Public Affairs Quarterly · doi:10.5406/21520542.37.4.04

The Causes and Diagnosis of Non-congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Primary Adrenal Insufficiency in Children

Atar, M., & Akın, L. (2024) · Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology · doi:10.4274/jcrpe.galenos.2024.2024-6-24-s

Inside the experimental causal black box: A heuristic for generating (alternative) explanations in experiments

Gruijters, S. L. K. (2026) · Methods in Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.metip.2026.100237

The Role of Research in the Development and Evaluation of College Student Well-Being Initiatives

Hoyle, R. H., & Moneta, L. (2026) · doi:10.1093/9780197759424.003.0035

Benefits and limitations of randomized controlled trials: A commentary on Deaton and Cartwright

Gelman, A. (2018) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.04.034 · Cited by 33 · see citing works

Alternative causal inference methods in population health research: Evaluating tradeoffs and triangulating evidence

Matthay, E. C., Hagan, E., Gottlieb, L. M., Tan, M. L., Vlahov, D., Adler, N. E., & Glymour, M. M. (2019) · SSM - Population Health · doi:10.1016/j.ssmph.2019.100526 · Cited by 83 · see citing works

Introduction to Causal Inference Approaches

Stuart, E. A., & Naeger, S. (2019) · Health services research · doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-8715-3_33 · Cited by 1 · see citing works

Alternatives to randomisation in the evaluation of public-health interventions: statistical analysis and causal inference

Cousens, S. N., Hargreaves, J., Bonell, C. P., Armstrong, B., Thomas, J., Kirkwood, B. R., & Hayes, R. (2009) · Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health · doi:10.1136/jech.2008.082610 · Cited by 84 · see citing works

Research Article Statistics in Medicine Received XXXX (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI: 10.1002/sim.0000 Tutorial in Biostatistics: Instrumental Variable Methods for Causal Inference∗

Baiocchia, M., Chengb, J., & Smallc, D. S. (2015)