Jebaraj Asirvatham, Michael R Thomsen, Rodolfo M Nayga, Heather L Rouse
Obese Peers' Influence on Students' BMI: Heterogeneity in Race and Sex
Health behavior and policy review
randomized controlled trials rcts increasingly popular social sciences medicine argue lay public sometimes researchers put much trust rcts methods investigation contrary frequent claims applied literature randomization equalize everything treatment treatment control groups automatically deliver precise estimate average treatment effect ate relieve us need think observed unobserved covariates finding whether estimate generated chance difficult commonly believed best rct yields unbiased estimate property limited practical value even estimates apply sample selected trial often convenience sample justification required extend results groups including population trial sample belongs individual including individual trial demanding external validity unhelpful expects much rct undervaluing potential contribution rcts indeed require minimal assumptions operate little prior knowledge advantage persuading distrustful audiences disadvantage cumulative scientific progress prior knowledge built upon discarded rcts play role building scientific knowledge useful predictions part cumulative program combining methods including conceptual theoretical development discover works things work