...Donald Forrester Purpose This paper's aim is to explore the uses and limitations of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for evaluating complex interventions, with a particular focus on sample recruitment and retention issues. Design/methodology/approach This is an invited critique...

... interventions for children. Design/methodology/approach The article is a critical reflection on the primary issue discussed by Stewart‐Brown et al. namely that RCTs do not work well in the evaluation of complex social interventions. Findings The author finds fault with several of the claims...

... and theoretical issues challenge this research methodology. This paper aims to address this issue. Design/methodology/approach This paper analyses practical and methodological issues of using RCTs within children's preventive services and presents the results of a qualitative study using data collected from...