Utilizing a Comparison Group in Evaluation

A comparison group is composed of individuals who are similar to those in a participant group but do not receive the same services or interventions.

A major advantage to using a comparison group evaluation design is the ability to tease out the effects of your program’s interventions in relation to expected outcomes. Without a comparison group, it is difficult to demonstrate that changes in your participants took place as a result of your intervention rather than some other reason.

This brief explains how to identify a comparison group and incorporate it into your evaluation.