Designing, Conducting, and Analyzing Field Experiments

Instructor(s): Donald Green, Political Science, Yale University

This short course aims to accomplish the following: (1) Explain why experiments are valuable tools for social science and program evaluation; (2) Examine in-depth examples of how field experiments are designed, executed, and analyzed; and (3) Explore and develop research ideas through discussion with peers and specialists. Experiments enable social scientists to draw valid inferences about cause and effect. The essential ingredient of experimentation is random assignment of people to treatment and control groups. Randomization ensures that these groups differ solely due to chance. So long as the experiment involves an ample number of subjects, the role of chance becomes minimal; the treatment and control conditions become virtually identical. These equivalent groups are then presented with different treatments. Since pre-existing differences have been eliminated, the different responses of the treatment and control groups may be attributed to the influence of the treatment. Experiments correct many of the deficiencies of observational, or nonexperimental, data. Random assignment enables researchers to disentangle the complex causal interplay among variables. It also affords the researcher much more control over what that treatment is and how accurately it is measured. The workshop will concentrate on "field" experiments, which take place in real-world settings: political campaigns, schools, police agencies, and the like. Participants should have a background in statistics, up to and including multiple regression and analysis of variance.

Dates: July 9-11

Location: New Haven, CT; Co-sponsored by the Institution for Social & Policy Studies, Yale University

Fees:  Member: $800;  Nonmember: $800

Enrollment in this course is limited.

Application is considered incomplete unless accompanied by fee payment. Cancellation less than 21 days prior to the workshop is subject to a $100 late withdrawal fee.

Note(s): For Graduate Students only, there will be a small number of scholarships available to cover the entire course fee of $800. Applicants for these awards must submit a cover letter explaining their background and interests in the field as well as a CV. Also required is a letter of recommendation from their advisor. Supporting materials should be emailed to: sp-experiments@icpsr.umich.edu. Applications are due by 2008-04-28.

Last Updated: 2008-04-18