Using a satisficing model of experimenter decision-making to guide finite-sample inference for compromised experiments

James Heckman and Ganesh Karapakula

The Econometrics Journal, 2021, vol. 24, issue 2, C1-C39

Abstract: SummaryThis paper presents a simple decision-theoretic economic approach for analysing social experiments with compromised random assignment protocols that are only partially documented. We model administratively constrained experimenters who satisfice in seeking covariate balance. We develop design-based small-sample hypothesis tests that use worst-case (least favourable) randomization null distributions. Our approach accommodates a variety of compromised experiments, including imperfectly documented rerandomization designs. To make our analysis concrete, we focus much of our discussion on the influential Perry Preschool Project. We reexamine previous estimates of programme effectiveness using our methods. The choice of how to model reassignment vitally affects inference.

Keywords: Randomized controlled trial; rerandomization; satisficing; worst-case randomization tests; partial identification; design-based least favourable small-sample inference (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Using a Satisficing Model of Experimenter Decision-Making to Guide Finite-Sample Inference for Compromised Experiments (2020)
Working Paper: Using a Satisficing Model of Experimenter Decision-Making to Guide Finite-Sample Inference for Compromised Experiments (2020)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oup:emjrnl:v:24:y:2021:i:2:p:c1-c39.

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