SIG: Design Parameters for Planning Multilevel Intervention Studies

The purpose of this SIG is to discuss the complexities of designing multilevel intervention studies. Specifically it will be a forum to share empirical estimates of design parameters (intraclass correlations, percent of variance explained by covariates) relevant for planning cluster randomized trials (CRTs) to test the effectiveness of social programs. Given that these issues have been carefully examined in education and health, the focus of this SIG is on other areas of social science including, but not limited, to social welfare programs, food and nutrition programs, or job training programs. After a brief introduction about the design of CRTs of social programs, we will invite participants to share empirical estimates of design parameters for planning CRTs of Social Programs. We encourage researchers planning CRTs of social programs to participate in this SIG.