Field Experiments Workshop

21 - 25 June 2010

This workshop is an introduction to the design and implementation of field experiments in the social sciences, using cutting-edge examples from economics and political science.

Morning sessions will be devoted to discussion of specific methodological issues (e.g., the feasibility of using field experiments to address different types of research questions, partnerships with governments and non-governmental organizations, alternative methods for randomization, sample size and design, implementation problems, ethics, and external validity). In the afternoon sessions, students will present their own proposals for new field experiments and receive feedback from the seminar.

After completing this workshop, students will improve their capacity to conduct field experiments to answer critical research questions in their fields of study.

This workshop will suit students interested in the fields of political science, economics, sociology, and public policy research.

There are no pre-requisites for this workshop but it is recommended that students have previously taken at least one course on quantitative methods.

Presenters

Jens Hainmueller: Hainmueller studies comparative and international political economy and political methodology. His methodological research interests include statistical methods for causal inference and experimental design. His applied research interests include the role of money in politics, trade and fair trade certification, immigration, and representation. His work has appeared in venues such as the American Political Science Review, Journal of the American Statistical Association, International Organization, Political Analysis, and Electoral Studies. He has worked extensively on impact evaluations for the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation and the German Ministry of Labour. His work has won the 2007 Gosnell Prize for Excellence in Political Methodology, awarded for the best methodology work presented at any political science conference during that year, and the Durr Award 2009, awarded for the best paper applying quantitative methods to a substantive problem in political science.

Michael Hiscox: Hiscox's research focuses on international trade, foreign investment, immigration, development, and private sector standards for ethical and environmentally responsible practices. He has written a number of articles for leading scholarly journals, including the American Political Science Review, International Organization, and the Journal of Economic History. He is also the author of two books. The first book, International Trade and Political Conflict, was published by Princeton University Press in 2002 and won the William H. Riker Prize for the best book in political economy that year. His second book, High Stakes: The Political Economy of U.S, Trade Sanctions, 1950-2000, will be published in 2010 by Cambridge University Press.

Hiscox's recent papers have addressed barriers to international trade, attitudes toward trade and immigration among voters, and questions concerning labor and environmental standards and the ethical labeling of traded products. Current projects include field experiments testing the impact of ethical certification and labeling programs.