We are delighted to share the first GOLTC Methods Guide on how to use Difference in Differences approaches in Long-Term Care research. The GOLTC Methods Guide are short introductions to useful research methods, written by researchers who use these methods and want t share their experience and knowledge.

The Difference-in-Differences (DiD) guide has been written by Sarthak Saluja and Javiera Cartagena-Farias of the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science.

Difference in Differences is a quasi-experimental method used to estimate the effect of an intervention (the treatment), usually a policy, by analysing change in outcome across a defined period-of-time. It is quasi-experimental, in the sense that the randomisation of units of analysis – which is otherwise considered as a gold standard for estimating causal effects – is not achievable.

You can read more about this method and how to use it here.