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Laboratory experiments in innovation research: a methodological overview and a review of the current literature

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  • Julia Brüggemann

    (University of Göttingen)

  • Kilian Bizer

    (University of Göttingen)

Abstract

Innovation research has developed a broad set of methodological approaches in recent decades. In this paper, we propose laboratory experiments as a fruitful methodological addition to the existing methods in innovation research. Therefore, we provide an overview of the existing methods, discuss the advantages and limitations of laboratory experiments, and review experimental studies dealing with different fields of innovation policy, namely intellectual property rights, financial instruments, payment schemes, and R&D competition. These studies show that laboratory experiments can fruitfully complement the established methods in innovation research and provide novel empirical evidence by creating and analyzing counterfactual situations.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia Brüggemann & Kilian Bizer, 2016. "Laboratory experiments in innovation research: a methodological overview and a review of the current literature," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joiaen:v:5:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1186_s13731-016-0053-9
    DOI: 10.1186/s13731-016-0053-9
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    Cited by:

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    3. Ina Ganguli & Marieke Huysentruyt & Chloe Le Coq, 2018. "How Do Nascent Social Entrepreneurs Respond to Rewards? A Field Experiment on Motivations in a Grant Competition," UMASS Amherst Economics Working Papers 2018-21, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Economics.
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    5. Ostermaier, Andreas & Uhl, Matthias, 2020. "Performance evaluation and creativity: Balancing originality and usefulness," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    6. Emma von Essen & Marieke Huysentruyt & Topi Miettinen, 2019. "Exploration in Teams and the Encouragement Effect: Theory and Evidence," Economics Working Papers 2019-10, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.

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