Glossary

A study’s ability to demonstrate that the group receiving the intervention (the intervention group) and the group not receiving the intervention (the comparison group) are similar to each other before the intervention begins is a key factor for determining the reliability of a study’s findings. Demonstrating that the two groups are similar according to important characteristics (such as race, ethnicity, gender, and time out of work) is called demonstrating baseline equivalence. We assess studies for how well they capture these kinds of characteristics about members of each group at baseline (that is, before intervention group members received intervention services) and how well they are able to show that the groups are largely similar across these key characteristics.

Adult Basic Education (ABE), high school equivalency preparation (for the General Educational Development [GED] or high school equivalency test [HiSET]), or pre-college education courses designed for those not currently enrolled in school who need assistance obtaining basic skills in mathematics, reading, and writing. These can include developmental education courses for students preparing for postsecondary coursework. Basic skills/bridge programs may be an intervention's primary service.