NSCPHD1111 Field experiments

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Over the last couple of decades the importance of, and interest in, the area of experimental economics has grown massively. A prominent feature of the experimental approach in economics is the possibility to establish clear causal relation by using tightly controlled experimental tasks and randomization of participants into various experimental conditions. Such possibilities often do not exist with naturally occurring data since behavior in such situations can be a mixture of circumstances and selection bias of particular types of people. Experimental economics circumvents this. Typically experimental economics has applied controlled laboratory experiments where participants take decision in a tightly controlled choice environment. Whereas this setting is widely accepted as the best way of establishing controlled choice environments it lacks the natural nature of everyday decision making. Making decisions in a laboratory is just not the same as outside the laboratory. A recent advancement in this field has been taking up this concern and developing field experiments as a supplement to the laboratory experiments. In a field experiment, decision makers are taking decisions in an everyday setting without knowing that they are being monitored. Furthermore, field experiments still make use of randomization to establish causal relations. Whereas the core idea in field experiments is quite simple executing it is not, and requires a lot of handcrafting.

The present PhD course intends to introduce the science of field experiments to PhD students from economics or any other social science background. The idea is to make an environment for best practice of doing field experiments with a truly hands-on approach. This aim is met by:

• Letting participants part take in a field experiment
• Letting participants perform their own field experiment
• Having a long array of national and international experts present their experience with setting up field experiments.
• Letting the participants discuss own research ideas with the experts.
• Having course participants write up a field experiment suggestion as a course assignment.

A successful completion of the course count as 5 ECTS points. These points are calculated to cover the effort of preparing for the course (reading the course material – academic papers), attending and actively engaging in the lectures and the other course activities, and finally hand in a short written proposal for a field experiment (which will be graded as passed/not passed).

Location: Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C, auditorium: Von Lagen (New building, second floor)

Lunch and coffee throughout the course is provided.

The course cost 1000 DKK and registration is done via this site.

Tentative program:

Day 1 – Monday August 15

9.30                     Coffee

10.00-11.00         Introduction – Toke Reinholt Fosgaard

11.00-12.00         Pitch your idea

12.00-13.00         Lunch

13.00-14.30         Lecture 1: Toke Reinholt Fosgaard - The steps of running                a good field experiment

14.30-15.00         Coffee break

15.00-16.30         Lecture 2: David Dreyer Lassen

16.30-17.30         Q&A

(18.30    Dinner)

Day 2 – Tuesday August 16

9.00-9.30              Coffee

9.30-11:                Lecture 3: Claus Thustrup Kreiner

11-12:                    Q&A     

12-13:                    Lunch

                              Group assignment: prepare data collection

13-14:30               Lecture 4: Mario Macis

14:30-15               Q&A

15-15.30               Coffee break

15.30-16.30         Group assignment: pre data-collection analysis plan

Day 3 – Wednesday August 17

Experiment Day (further instruction TBA)

Day 4 – Thursday August 18

9.00                        Coffee

9.30-11                 Lecture 5: Lars Gårn Hansen

11-12                     Q&A

12-13                     Lunch

13-14.30               Lecture 6: John Lynham            

14.30-15.30         Q&A

15.30-16.00         Coffee

16-17                     Group assignment: Data analysis and poster

Day 5 – Friday August 19

9.00                        Coffee

9.30-11.00           Lecture 7: Clara Zeller

11-12                     Q&A

12-13                     Lunch

13-14.30               Lecture 8: Loukas Balafoutas

14.30-15.30         Q&A

15.30-16.00         Evaluation

16.00-17.00         Poster session and wine