Step four: implement the new process for the intervention group
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Once you have randomised your list, you are ready to start your trial.
The process of planning and implementing a trial will vary depending on what you’re doing. Complex trials testing out multi-part interventions can last for years (a recent evaluation of the Family Nurse Partnership programme was published 12 years after the first parents were recruited). But for trials involving changes to communications the process is much simpler and usually only requires small tweaks to existing processes. See below for a practical example.
Conducting your trial: a letter intervention
The diagram below gives an example of the process for a local authority testing out two versions of a two-year-old offer letter. In this trial the local authority uses Excel’s mailmerge function, but you could adapt this depending on the specific processes in your local authority.
Image Description
Image of an 8-step flowchart. Steps are as follows:
Step 1: Finalise intervention and control letters
Step 2: Clean and randomise your list
Step 3: Split into two lists – control and intervention
Step 4: Mailmerge each list to match correct letter
Step 5: Spot check of each list
Step 6: Send to print room with instructions
Step 7: Send out letters
Step 8: Analyse data and asses impact
Authors
Louise Bazalgette
Louise Bazalgette
Deputy Director, fairer start mission
Louise works as part of a multi-disciplinary innovation team focused on narrowing the outcome gap for disadvantaged children.
View profileDave Wilson
Dave Wilson
Advisor
Dave is an Advisor in the Education team at the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) with a focus on early years projects.
View profileFionnuala O’Reilly
Fionnuala O’Reilly
Lead Behavioural Scientist, fairer start mission
Fionnuala is the lead behavioural scientist in the fairer start mission and is currently seconded from the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) until March 2023.
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