Issues to consider around using repeated cross-sections in a clustered experiment

In a cluster-level RCT, assignment to treatment is randomized at the level of a community, school, clinic, or other cluster. The standard practice is to then conduct a baseline survey of units (households, students, patients, etc.) and then re-interview these same individuals in a follow-up survey. But in an experiment that Sarah and Jennifer are currently designing, repeated cross-sectional surveys of community members are instead being considered. Upon reflection, this is a situation that may arise in a broader variety of clustered experiments, so we thought it useful to discuss some of the design issues and considerations that arise.

Authors: Sarah Baird and Jennifer Seager