Field Experiments

About

Field experiments are essential tools for testing causal relationships in real-world contexts. This course aims to enhance participants' research skills in the experimental social sciences by providing the conceptual and analytical tools needed to design and implement field experiments that address specific research questions. By the end of the course, participants will be familiar with various types of field experiments, including natural field experiments with confederates, audit and correspondence studies, as well as digital field experiments. Participants will also have developed a credible research design for their own field experiment.

The course comprehensively covers each stage of conducting a field experiment, from design and randomization to data analysis, while emphasizing important topics such as subgroup analysis, non-compliance, and research ethics. The format balances theoretical lectures with practical sessions, allowing participants to grasp the principles of field experiments and apply them in their own research.

Course leader

Johanna Gereke, University of Mannheim & Nicole Schwitter, University of Mannheim

Target group

This seminar-based course is best suited for students who possess a foundational understanding of statistics and basic skills in statistical software such as Stata or R. Participants will engage in reading, discussing, and replicating existing experimental studies.

You will find the course useful if:
- you are interested in applying experimental methods to address causal questions in social science research;
- you are an advanced master student, PhD student, postdoctoral researcher in quantitative social sciences;
- you aim to develop practical skills for analyzing experimental data, including handling challenges like non-compliance and attrition;
- you are concerned about the ethical implications of experimental research and want to learn best practices in research ethics;
- you plan to conduct a field experiment in your own projects.

Course aim

By the end of the course, you will:
- have gained an overview of the most common field experimental methods;
- know the strengths and weaknesses of the different field experimental methods;
- have gained a good understanding of how to design and implement field experiments as well as how to analyze the data and report on the results;
- can apply the methods purposefully in the context of your own work;
- understand the practical and ethical limitations and good research practices (e.g. pre-registration).

Fee info

The rate includes the tuition fee, course materials, and coffee/tea breaks.