Scientific Coordination
Sebastian E. Wenz
Tel: +49 221 47694-159
Tel: +49 221 47694-159
Administrative Coordination
Loretta Langendörfer M.A.
Tel: +49 221 47694-143
Tel: +49 221 47694-143
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Field Experiments
About
Location:
Cologne / Unter Sachsenhausen 6-8
Cologne / Unter Sachsenhausen 6-8
General Topics:
Course Level:
Format:
Software used:
Duration:
Language:
Fees:
Students: 550 €
Academics: 825 €
Commercial: 1650 €
Keywords
Additional links
Lecturer(s): Johanna Gereke, Nicole Schwitter
Course description
Field experiments are essential tools for testing causal relationships in real-world contexts. This course aims to enhance participants' research skills in the experimental social sciences by providing the conceptual and analytical tools needed to design and implement field experiments that address specific research questions. By the end of the course, participants will be familiar with various types of field experiments, including natural field experiments with confederates, audit and correspondence studies, as well as digital field experiments. Participants will also have developed a credible research design for their own field experiment.
The course comprehensively covers each stage of conducting a field experiment, from design and randomization to data analysis, while emphasizing important topics such as subgroup analysis, non-compliance, and research ethics. The format balances theoretical lectures with practical sessions, allowing participants to grasp the principles of field experiments and apply them in their own research.
For additional details on the course and a day-to-day schedule, please download the full-length syllabus.
Organizational Structure of the Course
Each day of the course will begin with four hours of classroom instruction in the morning, followed by two hours of hands-on tutorials, exercises, and individual meetings in the afternoon. The morning lectures will cover essential methods and general considerations for different types of field experiments while discussing empirical examples. Students are strongly encouraged to engage actively in these sessions by reading the assigned empirical studies, asking questions, and contributing to discussions.
In the afternoon, students will work on (reading, designing, and/or coding) assignments individually or in small groups, applying the methods presented in the morning using statistical software like Stata or R. During these sessions, instructors will be available to assist with any questions or to discuss specific challenges. Additionally, two afternoons will be dedicated to individual consultations, allowing students to explore their ideas for field experimental designs. These afternoon sessions will also provide opportunities for students to address their own research problems in one-on-one consultations with the lecturers.
Target group
This seminar-based course is best suited for students who possess a foundational understanding of statistics and basic skills in statistical software such as Stata or R. Participants will engage in reading, discussing, and replicating existing experimental studies.
You will find the course useful if:
Learning objectives
By the end of the course, you will:
Prerequisites
Software and Hardware Requirements
As a participant, you should bring your own laptop for use in the course. You will be able to use either R or Stata for the coding exercises. The latest version of R is available for free at https://cran.r-project.org/, and RStudio is available at https://www.rstudio.com/. Stata short-term licenses can be provided by GESIS for the duration of the course if needed. Throughout the course, participants will need to be able to install additional user packages on the fly (this requires an internet connection and appropriate writing rights on the local system).