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12 best practices for leveraging Generative AI in experimental research

Author

Listed:
  • Chang, Samuel
  • Kennedy, Andrew
  • Leonard, Aaron
  • List, John A.

Abstract

We provide twelve best practices and discuss how each practice can help researchers accurately, credibly, and ethically use Generative AI (GenAI) to enhance the four stages of experimental research. First, in the pre-treatment stage, GenAI can aid in pre-registration procedures, data privacy concerns, and ethical considerations specific to GenAI usage. Second, in the design and implementation stage, we focus on GenAI’s role in identifying new channels of variation, piloting and documentation, and upholding the four exclusion restrictions. Third, the analysis stage outlines how prompting and training set bias can impact results as well as necessary steps to ensure replicability. We end by discussing forward-looking best practices that are likely to gain importance as GenAI evolves.

Suggested Citation

  • Chang, Samuel & Kennedy, Andrew & Leonard, Aaron & List, John A., 2026. "12 best practices for leveraging Generative AI in experimental research," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:246:y:2026:i:c:s0167268126001502
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2026.107564
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Ji Ma, 2025. "Computational Basis of LLM's Decision Making in Social Simulation," Papers 2504.11671, arXiv.org, revised Dec 2025.
    3. Zarifhonarvar, Ali, 2026. "Generating inflation expectations with large language models," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    4. Shu Wang & Zijun Yao & Shuhuai Zhang & Jianuo Gai & Tracy Xiao Liu & Songfa Zhong, 2025. "When Experimental Economics Meets Large Language Models: Evidence-based Tactics," Papers 2505.21371, arXiv.org, revised Jul 2025.
    5. Keloharju, Matti & Keluharju, Roope, 2025. "Accounting Research in the Age of AI," Working Paper Series 1528, Research Institute of Industrial Economics, revised 29 Jul 2025.
    6. Kiwoong Yoo & Michael Haenlein & Kelly Hewett, 2025. "A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view: Charting unexplored territories in consumer research with generative artificial intelligence," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 53(3), pages 723-759, May.
    7. Ma, Ji, 2025. "Steering Prosocial AI Agents: Computational Basis of LLM's Decision Making in Social Simulation," OSF Preprints 8p7wg_v1, Center for Open Science.

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    JEL classification:

    • B40 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology - - - General
    • C80 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - General
    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General

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