Before-After Designs

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-002942",
  "term": "Before-After Designs",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "The elementary quasi-experimental design known as the before-after design involves the measurement of \"outcome\" indicators (e.g., arrest rates, attitudes) prior to implementation of the treatment, and subsequent re-measurement after implementation. Any change in the measure is attributed to the treatment. This design provides a significant improvement over the one-shot study because it measures change in the factor(s) to be impacted. However, this design suffers from threats of history - the possibility that some alternate factor (besides the treatment) has actually caused the change.",
  "subject": "Policy and guidance",
  "references": [
    "Program Evaluation Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/before-after-designs/"
}