We are also more deeply examining the original evidence of effectiveness for VillageReach’s pilot project. Our standards for evidence continue to rise, and our re-examination has raised significant questions that we intend to pursue in the coming months.
I had donated to VillageReach due to GiveWell’s endorsement, and I found it moderately easy to notice that they had changed more than just the room for funding conclusion.
That update does seem straightforward, thanks for finding it. I see how people following the GiveWell blog at the time would have a good chance of noticing this. I wish it had been easier to find for people trying to do retrospectives.
From http://blog.givewell.org/2012/03/26/villagereach-update/:
I had donated to VillageReach due to GiveWell’s endorsement, and I found it moderately easy to notice that they had changed more than just the room for funding conclusion.
That update does seem straightforward, thanks for finding it. I see how people following the GiveWell blog at the time would have a good chance of noticing this. I wish it had been easier to find for people trying to do retrospectives.