IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/uwp/jhriss/v61y2026i2p690-731.html

Testing Attrition Bias in Field Experiments

Author

Listed:
  • Dalia Ghanem
  • Sarojini Hirshleifer
  • Karen Ortiz-Becerra

Abstract

We approach attrition in field experiments with baseline data as an identification problem in a panel model. A systematic review of the literature indicates that there is no consensus on how to test for attrition bias. We establish identifying assumptions for treatment effects for both the respondents and the study population and propose procedures to test their sharp implications. We then relate our proposed tests to current empirical practice and demonstrate that the most commonly used test in the literature is not a test of internal validity in general. We illustrate the relevance of our analysis using several empirical applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Dalia Ghanem & Sarojini Hirshleifer & Karen Ortiz-Becerra, 2026. "Testing Attrition Bias in Field Experiments," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 61(2), pages 690-731.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:61:y:2026:i:2:p:690-731
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0920-11190R2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://jhr.uwpress.org/cgi/reprint/61/2/690
    Download Restriction: A subscription is required to access pdf files. Pay per article is available.
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C12 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Hypothesis Testing: General
    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:61:y:2026:i:2:p:690-731. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: the person in charge (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://jhr.uwpress.org/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.