When campaigns are on the line and budgets are tight, randomized controlled trials help you know exactly what’s working—and what’s not.

DSPolitical designs and executes custom randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to measure the real-world impact of your digital media. Whether your goal is to drive turnout, shift opinion, or determine which message to run at scale, we use gold-standard testing methodology to isolate the effect of your ads — with statistically significant results.

What We Measure

Mobilization

Are your ads increasing voter turnout?
We segment your target audience into treatment and control groups. Only one group receives ads. After the testing period, we match both groups back to the voter file and measure turnout lift. Our clients use this to prove impact and defend investment.

Proven Result:
In partnership with the NYC Campaign Finance Board, an RCT showed that voters exposed to digital ads turned out at a rate 1.6 percentage points higher than the control group — with even larger gains among under-30 and infrequent voters.

Persuasion

Is your message changing hearts, minds, or vote choice?
We survey a representative sample of your audience before and after they’re exposed to ads. This reveals statistically significant shifts in opinion, candidate support, or issue alignment — even when engagement metrics remain flat.

Proven Result:
In a study with a large digital media company, DSPolitical helped test strategies to counter election disinformation. The RCT showed that voters exposed to rebuttal messaging shifted their beliefs significantly, demonstrating that digital ads can effectively combat false narratives.

Creative Testing

Which message deserves your media dollars?
Before you launch a major buy, we can test multiple creative concepts with controlled digital delivery or focus group–style panels. Learn which messages are landing — and which ones aren’t — before you scale.

Proven Result:
Ahead of the 2022 Prop 27 fight in California, DSPolitical tested multiple creative concepts. Analysis revealed that targeted digital ads meaningfully increased opposition to the ballot measure — helping the campaign prioritize the strongest message before scaling.

Tested. Proven. Trusted.

DSPolitical has run RCTs for:

• National issue advocacy groups
• Nonpartisan civic engagement organizations
• Down-ballot campaigns
• 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) partners
• Public agencies like the NYC Campaign Finance Board

Each study is custom-built — from targeting to experimental design — to answer your most pressing strategic questions. You’ll receive a clear, statistically sound report that helps you improve performance, cut waste, and prove your impact to stakeholders and funders.

Why It Matters

• Engagement ≠ Impact: Views don’t matter. Votes do.
• Confidence in scale: Before committing a six-figure budget, test what works.
• Defensible results: Whether you’re talking to funders or board members, show them more than impressions — show lift.

Let’s Build the Right Test for Your Program

Ready to see what’s really working? Contact us below to talk through how we’d structure an RCT for your campaign, audience, and goals.