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Assessing Factors Influencing Acceptance of No-Difference Research

University of Michigan

Lee Sechrest

University of Arizona

In this randomized study 160 members of the Evaluation Research Society acted as judges to assess the attributes of research that produce credibility. The study focused on acceptability of no-difference findings, a long ignored but important domain of research. In the context of a hypothetical study, four factors were tested to determine their influence on acceptability of both no-difference and difference findings: randomization/nonran domization, one/three outcomes, power = .80/.60, and equivalence on baseline measures of all eight/all but two of eight. Experts were asked to judge degree of acceptability and to reject or accept findings in both a no-difference and a difference study. Randomization consistently enhanced the believability of outcomes whereas other factors exerted a less consistent influence. Limitations of the study were discussed.

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