Keywords

Learning outcomes

This class familiarizes students with the tool of experimental methods. The students learn how experiments are designed to test social science theories. They also learn to identify and eliminate nuisance variables that can cause data problems. They learn to design and run their own social science experiments, and write a research paper based on the results.

Contents

Experimental methods is a field of growing importance in the social sciences, in which decision making is tested in a controlled laboratory environment. The resulting data are used to evaluate theories as well as to test and fine tune policies that could not easily be tested with naturally occurring data. The spectrum of applications for experimental research is broad, including but not limited to international relations, voting theory, public economics, and game theory. This course surveys experimental research in many of these fields and provides a basic framework for designing and constructing experiments.

Evaluation and evaluation criteria

Study materials

Journal articles, selected textbook chapters, use of Charles Holt?s web-based experiments (veconlab) (course requires access to microlab)

Further information

Number of students (min-max):
20

Belongs to following study modules

2018–2019

Teaching

Archived Teaching Schedule. Please refer to current Teaching Shedule.

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