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Field Experiments: A Bridge between Lab and Naturally Occurring Data

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Author Info
John List (University of Chicago and NBER)

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Abstract

Laboratory experiments have been used extensively in economics in the past several decades to lend both positive and normative insights into a myriad of important economic issues. This study discusses a related approach that has increasingly grown in prominence of late--field experiments. I argue that field experiments serve as a useful bridge between data generated in the lab and empirical studies using naturally-occurring data. In discussing this relationship, I highlight that field experiments can yield important insights into economic theory and provide useful guidance to policymakers. I also draw attention to an important methodological contribution of field experiments: they provide an empirical account of behavioral principles that are shared across different domains. In this regard, at odds with conventional wisdom, I argue that representativeness of the environment, rather than representative of the sampled population, is the most crucial variable in determining generalizability of results for a large class of experimental laboratory games.

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Publisher Info
Article provided by Berkeley Electronic Press in its journal Advances in Economic Analysis & Policy.

Volume (Year): 6 (2007)
Issue (Month): 2 ()
Pages: 1747-1747
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Handle: RePEc:bep:eapadv:v:6:y:2007:i:2:p:1747-1747

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Related research
Keywords: laboratory experiment field experiment generalizability representativeness of environment

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments

References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:

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  10. Glenn W. Harrison & John A. List, 2004. "Field Experiments," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 42(4), pages 1009-1055, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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    Other versions:
  12. Kahneman, Daniel & Knetsch, Jack L & Thaler, Richard H, 1990. "Experimental Tests of the Endowment Effect and the Coase Theorem," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(6), pages 1325-48, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  20. Nava Ashraf & Dean Karlan & Wesley Yin, 2006. "Tying Odysseus to the Mast: Evidence from a Commitment Savings Product in the Philippines," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 121(2), pages 635-672, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  21. Starmer, Chris, 1999. "Experimental Economics: Hard Science or Wasteful Tinkering?," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 109(453), pages F5-15, February. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  22. Yan Chen & Xin Li & Jeffrey MacKie-Mason, 2006. "Online Fund-Raising Mechanisms: A Field Experiment," Contributions to Economic Analysis & Policy, Berkeley Electronic Press, vol. 5(2), pages 1477-1477. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  24. Jonathan E. Alevy & Michael S. Haigh & John A. List, 2007. "Information Cascades: Evidence from a Field Experiment with Financial Market Professionals," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 62(1), pages 151-180, 02. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  25. Orana Bandiera & Iwan Barankay & Imran Rasul, 2005. "Social Preferences and the Response to Incentives: Evidence from Personnel Data," Natural Field Experiments 0014, The Field Experiments Website. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  26. Cummings, Ronald G, et al, 1997. "Are Hypothetical Referenda Incentive Compatible?," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 105(3), pages 609-21, June.
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  28. Dean S. Karlan, 2005. "Using Experimental Economics to Measure Social Capital And Predict Financial Decisions," Working Papers 909, Economic Growth Center, Yale University. [Downloadable!]
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  29. Arthur Schram, 2005. "Artificiality: The tension between internal and external validity in economic experiments," Journal of Economic Methodology, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 12(2), pages 225-237, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  31. Catherine C. Eckel & Philip J. Grossman, . "Subsidizing Charitable Contributions: A Field Test Comparing Matching and Rebate Subsidies," Framed Field Experiments, The Field Experiments Website. [Downloadable!]
  32. Fehr, Ernst & Kirchsteiger, George & Riedl, Arno, 1993. "Does Fairness Prevent Market Clearing? An Experimental Investigation," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 108(2), pages 437-59, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  33. Jeffrey P. Carpenter & Amrita Daniere & Lois Takahashi, 2004. "Cooperation, Trust and Social Capital in Southeast Asian Urban Slums," Artefactual Field Experiments 0031, The Field Experiments Website. [Downloadable!]
  34. John A. List, 2001. "Do Explicit Warnings Eliminate the Hypothetical Bias in Elicitation Procedures? Evidence from Field Auctions for Sportscards," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(5), pages 1498-1507, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  35. Dirk Engelmann & Veronika Grimm, 2004. "Bidding Behavior In Multi-Unit Auctions - An Experimental Investigation And Some Theoretical Insights," Working Papers. Serie AD 2004-12, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie). [Downloadable!]
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  36. John H. Kagel & Raymond C. Battalio & James M. Walker, 1979. "Volunteer Artifacts in Experiments in Economics: Specification of the Problem and Some Initial Data from a Small-Scale Field Experiment," Artefactual Field Experiments 0061, The Field Experiments Website.
  37. Jeffrey P. Carpenter & Glenn W. Harrison, 2005. "Field Experiments in Economics: An Introduction," Artefactual Field Experiments 0030, The Field Experiments Website. [Downloadable!]
  38. Gine, Xavier & Jakiela, Pamela & Karlan, Dean & Morduch, Jonathan, 2006. "Microfinance games," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3959, The World Bank. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
    • Xavier Gine & Pamela Jakiela & Dean Karlan & Jonathan Morduch, 2006. "Microfinance Games," Working Papers 2102, The Field Experiments Website. [Downloadable!]
    • Dean Karlan & Xavier Gine & Jonathan Morduch & Pamela Jakiela, 2006. "Microfinance Games," Working Papers 936, Economic Growth Center, Yale University. [Downloadable!]
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  41. Craig E. Landry & Andreas Lange & John A. List & Michael K. Price & Nicholas G. Rupp, 2006. "Toward an Understanding of the Economics of Charity: Evidence from a Field Experiment," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 121(2), pages 747-782, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  42. Catherine Eckel, 2005. "Subsidizing Charitable Contributions: A Field Test Comparing Matching and Rebate Subsidies," Working Papers 2098, The Field Experiments Website. [Downloadable!]
Full references

Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Hongbin Cai & Yuyu Chen & Hanming Fang, 2007. "Observational Learning: Evidence from a Randomized Natural Field Experiment," NBER Working Papers 13516, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  2. Klaus Moeltner & James J. Murphy & John K. Stranlund & Maria Alejandra Velez, 2007. "Processing Data from Social Dilemma Experiments: A Bayesian Comparison of Parametric Estimators," Working Papers 07-013, University of Nevada, Reno, Department of Economics & University of Nevada, Reno , Department of Resource Economics. [Downloadable!]
  3. Menkhoff, Lukas & Schmeling, Maik & Schmidt, Ulrich, 2008. "Are Professional Investors Sophisticated?," Diskussionspapiere der Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität Hannover dp-397, Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät. [Downloadable!]
  4. List, John A. & Reiley, David, 2008. "Field Experiments in Economics: Palgrave Entry," IZA Discussion Papers 3273, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
  5. Catherine C. Eckel & Philip J. Grossman, 2006. "Subsidizing charitable contributions: a natural field experiment comparing matching and rebate subsidies," Working Papers 2008-08 Classification-C9, Saint Cloud State University, Department of Economics, revised Dec 2007. [Downloadable!]
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