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                            Library & Multimedia
 Statistical Power in Experimental Audit Studies: Cautions and Calculations for Matched Tests With Nominal Outcomes
NCJ Number
              249088
Journal

*Sociological Methods Research* Volume: 45 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2016 Pages: 260-303
Author(s)
          Mike  Vuolo;
                        Christopher  Uggen;
                        Sarah  Lageson
Date Published

May 2016
Length
              44 pages
Annotation
              This article presents sample size and power calculations for McNemar's test using empirical data from an audit study on misdemeanor arrest records and employability, and formulas and examples are then provided for cases involving more than two treatments (Cochran's Q test) and nominal outcomes (Stuart-Maxwell test).  Recommendations concerning power and sample size are provided for researchers designing and presenting matched audit studies.
Abstract
              Given their capacity to identify causal relationships, experimental audit studies have grown increasingly popular in the social sciences. Typically, investigators send fictitious auditors who differ by a key factor (e.g., race) to particular experimental units (e.g., employers) and then compare treatment and control groups on a dichotomous outcome (e.g., hiring). In such scenarios, an important design consideration is the power to detect a certain magnitude difference between the groups. But power calculations are not straightforward in standard matched tests for dichotomous outcomes. Given the paired nature of the data, the number of pairs in the concordant cells (when neither or both auditor receives a positive response) contributes to the power, which is lower as the sum of the discordant proportions approaches one. Because these quantities are difficult to determine a priori, researchers must exercise particular care in experimental design.  This article provides guidance on this issue.  (Publisher abstract modified)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2007-IJ-CX-0042


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)
                                Report (Study/Research)
                                Report (Grant Sponsored)


  
  
        
  Award
        "The Effects of Low Level Offense Records and Race on Employability." This study will examine the effects that low level offense records and race have on employability.
    
  
  
Date Published: May 1, 2016
    
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