Experimental Methods

Course description

This modular course provides students with the main insights into the methodology of economic experiments. Students will learn how economic experiments can help identify causal effects (via randomization) and thereby complement and advance other empirical methods.

We will discuss the different purposes of economic experiments as well as different types of economic experiments. Most emphasis is put on how to design economic experiments (e.g., within- vs. between-subjects designs, how and what to measure, how and on what level to randomize on, how to avoid potential selection or attrition, how to write instructions for lab and online experiments, etc.).

In different modules, we will discuss the measurement of preferences (e.g., risk, time, and social preferences), beliefs, and actions, and shed light on important methodological aspects (such as the use of multiple price lists, convex budget sets, and the strategy vs. the direct response method).

We will also discuss the process of planning and running an economic experiment (including preregistration, ethics approval, available programming / implementation options, data storage, and data privacy issues) and the principles of analyzing experimental data.

Time and place

Lecture

Leopoldstr. 13 Raum 3232, Tuesday, 10.15-11.50am (including 5min break)

We will stream the lecture also in zoom (for those who cannot attend in person and plan to place provide video recordings accessible via moodle.

Tutorial (blocked on three days)

Nov 26 - Research Questions

Geschw.-Scholl-Pl. 1 (F) Raum F 007

Dec 16 - Design Presentations

Theresienstr. 39 Raum B 041 

Dec 17 - Design presentations

Geschw.-Scholl-Pl. 1 (F) Raum F 007

We plan to stream the blocked tutorials (student presentations) but not record them.

Examination

Term paper (~ 45000 characters)

(Final design submission, Jan 16)

For more information: see slides of Lecture 1

Course-related references

Books

Jacquemet, N., & l'Haridon, O. (2018). Experimental economics. Cambridge University Press.

Moffatt, P. G. (2015). Experimetrics: Econometrics for experimental economics. Macmillan International Higher Education.

 

Overview Articles

Al-Ubaydli, O., & List, J. A. (2012). On the generalizability of experimental results in economics (No. w17957). National Bureau of Economic Research.

Croson, R., & Gächter, S. (2010). The science of experimental economics. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 73(1), 122-131.

Harrison, G. W., & List, J. A. (2004). Field experiments. Journal of Economic Literature, 42(4), 1009-1055.

Samuelson, L. (2005). Economic theory and experimental economics. Journal of Economic Literature, 43(1), 65-107.

 

A related “fun” read

List, J. A. (2020). Non est disputandum de generalizability? A glimpse into the external validity trial (No. w27535). National Bureau of Economic Research.

Additional readings will be provided within the lecture slides.