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The changing role of social experiments in policy analysis

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  • David H. Greenberg
  • Philip K. Robins

Abstract

Since 1968 more than thirty-five social policy experiments have been conducted in the United States. During this period through 1976 these experiments were generally long-term, large-scale tests of major new programs; thereafter, experiments became markedly more modest in scope. Although hundreds of millions of dollars were spent on the earlier programs, the experiments probably had only a negligible impact on policies. This result stemmed from a variety of factors: Social testing actually tends to exert a conservative influence on policymaking; and the time required to complete experiments and interpret results is often incompatible with the needs of policy makers. In addition, test results are often not effectively communicated to Congress, the administration and the public, and even when the results are conveyed, policy makers are frequently skeptical about the soundness of the methodologies employed. If recent experimental programs are to exert more influence on policymaking, program oficials will need to address these dificulties.

Suggested Citation

  • David H. Greenberg & Philip K. Robins, 1986. "The changing role of social experiments in policy analysis," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 5(2), pages 340-362.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:jpamgt:v:5:y:1986:i:2:p:340-362
    DOI: 10.1002/pam.4050050210
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    Cited by:

    1. Coralie Perez, 2000. "« L'évaluation expérimentale des programmes d'emploi et de formation aux Etats-Unis : éléments de critique interne »," Post-Print halshs-00370754, HAL.
    2. Jesse Rothstein & Till von Wachter, 2016. "Social Experiments in the Labor Market," NBER Working Papers 22585, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Romuald Normand, 2021. "The New European Political Arithmetic of Inequalities in Education: A History of the Present," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(3), pages 361-371.
    4. Howard S. Bloom & Johannes M. Bos & Suk-Won Lee, 1999. "Using Cluster Random Assignment to Measure Program Impacts," Evaluation Review, , vol. 23(4), pages 445-469, August.
    5. Paula Kivimaa & Mikael Hildén & Dave Huitema & Andrew Jordan & Jens Newig, 2015. "Experiments in Climate Governance. Lessons from a Systematic Review of Case Studies in Transition Research," SPRU Working Paper Series 2015-36, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    6. David H. Greenberg & Marvin B. Mandell, 1991. "Research utilization in policymaking: A tale of two series (of social experiments)," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 10(4), pages 633-656.

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