Attrition in Randomized Controlled Trials: Using Tracking Information to Correct Bias

B-Tier
Journal: Economic Development & Cultural Change
Year: 2025
Volume: 73
Issue: 2
Pages: 811 - 834

Authors (2)

Teresa Molina-Millán (not in RePEc) Karen Macours (Paris School of Economics)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This paper analyzes the implications of attrition for the internal and external validity of the results of four randomized experiments and proposes a new method to correct for attrition bias. We find that not including those found during the intensive tracking can lead to a substantial overestimation or underestimation of the intention-to-treat effects, even when attrition without such tracking is balanced. We propose to correct for attrition using inverse probability weighting with estimates of weights that exploit the similarities between missing individuals and those found during an intensive tracking phase.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:ecdecc:doi:10.1086/730612
Journal Field
Development
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25