Laboratory Experiments

About

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to laboratory experiments in the social and behavioral sciences, offering participants a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in designing, conducting, and analyzing lab-based studies. Laboratory experiments have become a crucial tool for testing theories and identifying causal relationships, especially in settings where observational data may suffer from biases and confounding variables. This course will equip participants with the skills necessary to understand and apply this powerful method to their own research.

The course is structured to cater to researchers from various backgrounds, including sociology, political science, and economics. No prior experience with experimental methods is required. We will cover essential topics such as the advantages of experimental designs, key principles of experiment construction (e.g., randomization and control), and different types of lab experiments, from individual decision-making to strategic interaction between groups. The course will also touch on modern developments in experimental economics, including trust and risk behavior, public goods, and gender differences in competitive settings.

Teaching will be conducted through a combination of interactive lectures, practical sessions, and group discussions. A major part of the course will involve programming and running simple experiments using zTree, a widely used software for conducting economic experiments. Participants will also have the chance to analyze experimental data using tools like Stata or R.

In addition to laboratory experiments, we will briefly introduce online experimental platforms such as Prolific and MTurk, discussing how they complement traditional lab-based approaches.
By the end of the course, participants will have acquired practical knowledge and the technical skills needed to design and run their own experiments, making this course ideal for anyone looking to incorporate experimental methods into their research.

Please note: There is a big trade fair ("IDS 2025") in Cologne during week 2 (25 - 29 March 2025). You must book your accommodation as soon as possible.

Course leader

Florian Heine, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Target group

You will find the course useful if:
- you are a social science researcher interested in applying experimental methods to study human behavior, decision-making, or social interactions;
- you are a PhD student, Postdoc, or advanced Master's student in sociology, political science, psychology, or related fields, seeking to incorporate laboratory experiments in your research;
- you want to design and conduct lab-based experiments, particularly to explore topics such as trust, cooperation, or competition;
- you want to gain hands-on experience in programming and running simple experiments;
- you are looking for practical guidance on how to analyze experimental data and interpret results for your research.

Course aim

By the end of the course you will:
- be able to design and implement laboratory experiments to investigate social and behavioral research questions;
- have gained practical experience in programming simple experiments using zTree (or alternative platforms) and running them with participants;
- understand key concepts in experimental design, including how to structure an experiment, write instructions, and collect data;
- be familiar with methods to analyze experimental data and draw meaningful conclusions for your own research;
- have a broader understanding of how experimental methods can be applied in social science research to answer causal questions.

Fee info

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