Chapter 1: How cost-effective are lectures? A review of the experimental literature

Introduction As a method of evaluation, cost-effectiveness analysis is relatively simple in its principles, with a thorough presentation given by Levin and McEwan (2001). However, these simple principles belie the complexity of cost-effectiveness analysis in practice. Perhaps these complexities explain the dearth of proper cost-effectiveness studies, a dearth identified by Levin (2001), and – in this book – emphasized in Chapters by King, McEwan, and Clune (Chapters 1, 2 and 3).1 Indeed, these contributions offer a comprehensive overview of the extant literature; and – inevitably – they respond with calls for more, high quality research. Although this call is understandable, it is made repeatedly (see Levin, 1988).