Introduction
This guide for study authors details the components of randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental design studies that the Prevention Services Clearinghouse uses to determine eligibility for review, assign design and execution ratings, and determine program or service ratings, as well as other recommended practices for research reporting. This guide reflects the standards and procedures described in the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse Handbook on Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0 (Handbook Version 2.0).
Purpose
This guide aims to facilitate the Prevention Services Clearinghouse review process and is also intended to help study authors describe their studies completely and consistently.
Citation
Kerns, S. E. U., Wilson, S. J., Brown, S. R., & Gubits, D. (2024). Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse Reporting Guide for Study Authors, Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0, OPRE Report 2024-xx. Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Glossary
- Analytic Sample:
- The analytic sample is the sample of participants included in an analysis of the impact of the program or service on an outcome. Studies may have multiple analytic samples because the number of participants available for analysis may differ for different outcomes and different time points within a study.
- Head-to-Head Comparison Condition:
- Head-to-Head comparison conditions are those in which the comparison condition is an alternative intervention, active intervention, active control intervention or comparator intervention.
- Intervention Condition:
- The intervention condition is the program or service relevant to the work of the Prevention Services Clearinghouse that is intended to provide enhanced support to children and families and prevent foster care placements. Studies may have more than one intervention condition.
- Minimal Intervention Comparison Condition:
- Minimal intervention conditions are those in which participants are offered minimal or limited services. These individuals may receive handouts, referrals to available services, or similar nominal interventions.
- No Intervention Comparison Condition:
- No intervention comparison conditions are those in which the participants are offered no services. Participants may be placed on a waiting list for future services or be offered no services as part of the study.
- Placebo or Attention Control Comparison Condition:
- Placebo or attention control comparison conditions are those in which psychological or pharmacological placebo or nonspecific therapy is used to control for expectancy effects or time effects.
- Quasi-Experimental Design (QED):
- A study in which units are assigned to intervention and comparison conditions via a non-random process.
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT):
- A study in which units are assigned to intervention and comparison conditions via a random process (e.g., a lottery).
- Study:
- One research investigation of a defined subject sample, and the interventions, measures, and statistical analyses applied to that sample. Sometimes study results are reported in more than one document, or a single document reports results from separate studies.
- Treatment as Usual Comparison Condition:
- Treatment as usual comparison conditions are those in which the participants are offered or are free to seek out the usual or typical services available for the population in the study.
- Usual Care or Practice Setting:
- A usual care or practice setting is defined as an existing service agency or provider that delivers mental health services, substance use prevention or treatment services, in-home parent skill-based programs, and/or kinship navigator programs as part of its typical operations. See section 7.2.2 in Handbook Version 2.0 for additional information.