Lab Experiments are a Major Source of Knowledge in the Social Sciences

James Heckman and Armin Falk

No 7620, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: Laboratory experiments are a widely used methodology for advancing causal knowledge in the physical and life sciences. With the exception of psychology, the adoption of laboratory experiments has been much slower in the social sciences, although during the last two decades, the use of lab experiments has accelerated. Nonetheless, there remains considerable resistance among social scientists who argue that lab experiments lack "realism" and "generalizability". In this article we discuss the advantages and limitations of laboratory social science experiments by comparing them to research based on nonexperimental data and to field experiments. We argue that many recent objections against lab experiments are misguided and that even more lab experiments should be conducted.

Keywords: Controlled variation; Field experiments; Laboratory experiments (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C90 C91 C92 C93 D00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-01
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Lab Experiments are a Major Source of Knowledge in the Social Sciences (2009)
Working Paper: Lab Experiments Are a Major Source of Knowledge in the Social Sciences (2009)
Working Paper: Lab Experiments are a Major Source of Knowledge in the Social Sciences (2009)
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