Field experiments
Subtitle: a bridge between lab and naturally-occurring data
By: John A. List.
Contributors: List, John A.; National Bureau of Economic Research.
Series: NBER working paper series -- working paper 12992; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research : Online) -- working paper no. 12992.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2007
Place of publication: Cambridge, MA
Language: eng
Format: Electronic resource
Description: "Laboratory experiments have been used extensively in economics in the past several decades to lend both positive and normative insights into a myriad of important economic issues.  This study discusses a related approach that has increasingly grown in prominence of late--field experiments.  I argue that field experiments serve as a useful bridge between data generated in the lab and empirical studies using naturally-occurring data.  In discussing this relationship, I highlight that field experiments can yield important insights into economic theory and provide useful guidance to policymakers.  I also draw attention to an important methodological contribution of field experiments: they provide an empirical account of behavioral principles that are shared across different domains.  In this regard, at odds with conventional wisdom, I argue that representativeness of the environment, rather than representative of the sampled population, is the most crucial variable in determining generalizability of results for a large class of experimental laboratory games"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Notes: Title from PDF file as viewed on 5/25/2007.

Includes bibliographical references.

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Mode of access: World Wide Web.