Manipulation Tests in Regression Discontinuity Design: The Need for Equivalence Testing

Jack Fitzgerald

No 136, I4R Discussion Paper Series from The Institute for Replication (I4R)

Abstract: Researchers utilizing regression discontinuity design (RDD) commonly test for running variable (RV) manipulation around a cutoff, but incorrectly assert that insignificant manipulation test statistics are evidence of negligible manipulation. I introduce simple frequentist equivalence testing procedures that can provide statistically significant evidence that RV manipulation around a cutoff is practically equal to zero. I then demonstrate the necessity of these procedures, leveraging replication data from 36 RDD publications to conduct 45 equivalence-based RV manipulation tests. Over 44% of RV density discontinuities at the cutoff cannot be significantly bounded beneath a 50% upward jump. Bounding equivalence-based manipulation test failure rates beneath 5% requires arguing that a 350% upward density jump is practically equal to zero. Meta-analytic estimates reveal that average RV manipulation around the cutoff is equivalent to a 26% upward density jump. These results imply that many published RDD estimates may be confounded by discontinuities in potential outcomes due to RV manipulation that remains undetectable by existing tests. I provide research guidelines and commands in Stata and R to help researchers conduct more credible equivalencebased manipulation testing in future RDD research.

Keywords: McCrary density test; rddensity; DCdensity; Hartman test (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C12 C18 C87 P00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ecm and nep-inv
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Working Paper: Manipulation Tests in Regression Discontinuity Design: The Need for Equivalence Testing (2025)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:i4rdps:136

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