Case #680.0

Conflicting Findings: Evaluating WIC

Publication Date: January 01, 1986
$3.95
Current Stock:

Educator Access

A review copy of this case is available free of charge to educators and trainers. Please create an account or sign in to gain access to this material.

Permission to Reprint

Each purchase of this product entitles the buyer to one digital file and use. If you intend to distribute, teach, or share this item, you must purchase permission for each individual who will be given access. Learn more about purchasing permission to reprint.

Abstract:
This case is designed to foster discussion concerning a question public managers often face: How should one make decisions when available studies and data appear contradictory? A 1984 General Accounting Office (GAO) review found that existing studies came to conflicting conclusions about the efficacy of the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

Learning Objective:
The case summarizes the WIC program, provides details of the six studies the GAO examined, and puts students in the role of a congressional staffer forced to evaluate the GAO review. Points generally covered in class include the merits of different kinds of study designs, statistical power, and the relative credibility of different sorts of statistical evidence.

Other Details

Case Author:
David Kennedy
Faculty Lead:
Richard Light
Pages (incl. exhibits):
2
Setting:
United States
Language:
English