STAGE 6. Defining the evaluation plan
What steps should be completed?
Step 1: Select the type of evaluation
The control group does not receive the intervention and is used to compare its results with those of the intervention group after a period of time. The control group is measurements in the same way as the intervention group but, if changes are seen in the individuals in control group, these changes are understood to be due to natural variations in the group and not to the effects of the treatment or intervention. In some evaluation designs, the control group is also called the comparison group.
The control group it consists of individuals with similar relevant personal and social characteristics capable of affecting the results of the intervention to those of the intervention group. The more similar the two groups are, the more you certain it is that the changes in the intervention group are due to the treatment or intervention and not to possible differences between the two groups. However, in the area of drug-demand reduction, as is the case in other social and health areas, achieving equivalent groups may sometimes be difficult. +
© COPOLAD. Cooperation Programme between Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union on Drugs Policies.
