Laboratory Experiments in the Social Sciences
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Table of contents
- Laboratory Experiments in the Social Sciencesiii
- Copyright Pageiv
- Dedication Pagev
- Contentsvii
- Prefacexv
- Contributorsxix
- Part I: Introduction to the Philosophy of Experimentation1
- Chapter 1: Why Do Experiments?5
- I. A Brief History of Experiments6
- II. Comparisons to Other Designs Used in Social Science Research9
- III. Advantages and Disadvantages of Experiments11
- IV. Steps in Conducting Experimental Research15
- V. The Place of Experiments in Social Science21
- VI. How This Book Can Help22
- References23
- Chapter 2: Experiments and the Science of Sociology25
- I. Introduction25
- II. Experimentation in Sociology26
- III. Two Kinds of Experiments27
- IV. Examples of Empiricist and Theory-Driven Experiments35
- V. Artificiality, Simplicity, and Implications Outside the Lab50
- VI. Conclusions52
- Acknowledgments54
- References54
- Chapter 3: Logical and Philosophical Foundations of Experimental Research in the Social Sciences57
- I. Introduction57
- II. Clues to Causation59
- III. Mill’s Canons and Inferring Causality63
- IV. Fisher’s Solution and Hallmarks of Experimentation66
- V. Fisher’s Premature Burial and Posthumous Resurrection68
- VI. Simple Designs and Threats to Internal Validity71
- VII. Using Experimental Design to Resolve Problems of Internal Validity75
- VIII. Varieties of Experiments in the Social Sciences78
- IX. External Validity and Artificiality81
- X. Conclusion84
- Acknowledgments85
- References85
- Chapter 4: The External Validity of Experiments That Test Theories87
- I. Problem87
- II. What Is External Validity?90
- III. Implications96
- IV. Summary and Conclusion108
- References109
- Chapter 5: Hypotheses, Operationalizations, and Manipulation Checks113
- I. Introduction113
- II. Hypotheses115
- III. The Experiment119
- IV. Operationalizations and Manipulations121
- V. On Particular Features123
- VI. Further Comments on Operationalizations126
- VII. Manipulation Checks129
- VIII. Further Comments on Manipulation Checks131
- IX. Summary and Conclusions133
- Acknowledgments133
- References133
- Part II: Designing and Conducting Experiments137
- Chapter 6: Ethics and Experiments141
- I. Introduction141
- II. Defining Ethics in Research144
- III. Ethical Issues in Laboratory Experiments146
- IV. Meeting Regulatory Requirements159
- V. Conclusions169
- Acknowledgments170
- References170
- Chapter 7: Technological Issues Related to Experiments173
- I. Introduction174
- II. Defining Technology175
- III. The Role of Technology in Creating Experimental Settings175
- IV. The Role of Technology in Operationalizing Independent Variables178
- V. Technologies as Independent Variables181
- VI. The Role of Technology in Operationalizing Dependent Variables183
- VII. Summary and Conclusion: Preparing for the Future of Technology in Laboratory Experiments188
- Acknowledgments189
- References189
- Chapter 8: Funding Experiments, Writing Proposals193
- I. Why Write a Proposal?193
- II. Special Problems of Experimental Research in the Social Sciences197
- III. The Structure of Research Funding; Roles and Role Behaviors and Some Terms200
- IV. Research Programs and Proposals203
- V. Preparation for Writing a Proposal205
- VI. Sections of Proposals207
- VII. Some Tips on Proposal Preparation and Writing Styles216
- VIII. Some Stylistic Suggestions218
- IX. What Happens Next?221
- X. Successful and Unsuccessful Proposals223
- Acknowledgments224
- Further Reading224
- Chapter 9: Developing Your Experiment225
- I. Introduction225
- II. Designing the Experiment226
- III. The Gender ExperimentŽ: A Practical Example of Abstract Considerations231
- IV. Pretesting and Pilot Testing234
- V. Analyzing and Interpreting Data237
- VI. Summary242
- Acknowledgments242
- References242
- Chapter 10: Human Participants in Laboratory Experiments in the Social Sciences243
- I. Introduction243
- II. Human Participants in Psychology245
- III. Participants in Sociology254
- IV. Participants in Political Science259
- V. Conclusion263
- References263
- Chapter 11: Training Interviewers and Experimenters267
- I. Introduction267
- II. Preliminaries268
- III. Experiments as Theater270
- IV. Preparing the Assistant for the Role272
- V. Training for Specific Tasks275
- VI. Compensation279
- VII. Experimental Staff as a Group280
- VIII. Training for Postsession Interviews283
- IX. Establishing a Mentor Role285
- X. Concluding Remarks287
- Acknowledgments288
- References288
- Chapter 12: Common Problems and Solutions289
- I. Introduction289
- II. Relations with the Larger Department or Program290
- III. Experimental Manipulations and Deception293
- IV. Experimental Design Issues299
- V. Running Experiments Using Confederates301
- VI. Developing Procedures304
- VII. Pretesting306
- VIII. Videotape309
- IX. Maintaining a Subject Pool315
- X. Payment and Credit Issues321
- XI. Experimenter Effects322
- References324
- Part III: Experiments Across the Social Sciences325
- Chapter 13: Conducting Applied Experimental Research329
- I. Conducting Applied Experimental Research329
- II. Basic and Applied Research333
- III. The Role of Theory in Applied Experimental Research335
- IV. Developing a Proposal and Generating Funding for Applied Experimental Research336
- V. Conducting Applied Experimental Research342
- VI. Presenting Research Results347
- VII. Summary348
- References349
- Chapter 14: The Standardized Experimental Situation in Expectation States Research: Notes on History353
- I. Introduction353
- II. On the Construction of SES355
- III. The Graph Formulation of Status Characteristic Theory361
- IV. Uses and Special Features of SES363
- IV. Some Concluding Comments370
- Appendix371
- I. Metatheoretical Components371
- II. Theoretical Components371
- III. Theory-Based Empirical Models373
- Acknowledgments373
- References373
- Chapter 15: Experiments on Exchange Relations and Exchange Networks in Sociology379
- I. Introduction379
- II. Background and Development380
- III. Standard Settings and Designs386
- IV. Technological Developments393
- V. Some Examples of Exchange Experiments395
- VI. Assessment and Future Prospects403
- References405
- Further Reading406
- Chapter 16: Solving Coordination Problems, Experimentally407
- I. Introduction407
- II. Background and Development408
- III. Design and Implementation of Coordination Experiments in Economics415
- IV. Technological Developments417
- V. Examples419
- VI. Assessment427
- Acknowledgments429
- References429
- Chapter 17: Voting and Agenda Setting in Political Science and Economics433
- I. Introduction433
- II. The Canonical Experiment434
- III. Equilibrium and Disequilibrium442
- IV. Agendas450
- V. Asymmetric Relations452
- VI. Equilibrium and Disequilibrium, Redux454
- Acknowledgments455
- References455
- Chapter 18: Social Dilemma Experiments in Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, and Economics459
- I. Introduction459
- II. Different Kinds of Social Dilemmas460
- III. Rejection of the Strong Free-Riding Hypothesis465
- IV. Testing Payoff Properties467
- V. What Group Members Know About Each Other469
- VI. New Directions and New Strategies474
- References477
- Part IV: Experiments in the Twenty-First Century481
- Chapter 19: Experimental Political Science483
- I. Introduction483
- II. Historical Development484
- III. Contemporary Examples487
- IV. Assessment and Challenges490
- V. Potentials for Future Work490
- VI. Challenges493
- VII. Conclusions494
- References494
- Chapter 20: Economic Games for Social Scientists497
- I. Introduction497
- II.Methodology500
- III. Discussion and Conclusion511
- Acknowledgments513
- References513
- Chapter 21: Laboratory Experiments in Sociology517
- I. Introduction517
- II. Effect Experiments 518518
- III. Effect Research Programs519
- IV. Theoretically Oriented Experiments520
- V. Theoretical Research Programs523
- VI. Assessment525
- VII. Challenge528
- References530
- Index533
Laboratory Experiments in the Social Sciences is the only book providing core information for researchers about the ways and means to conduct experiments. Its comprehensive regard for laboratory experiments encompasses “how-to explanations, investigations of philosophies and ethics, explorations of experiments in specific social science disciplines, and summaries of both the history and future of social science laboratories. No other book offers such a direct avenue to enlarging our knowledge in the social sciences.
This collection of original chapters combines instructions and advice about the design of laboratory experiments in the social sciences with the array of other issues. While there are books on experimental design and chapters in more general methods books on design, theory, and ethical issues, no other book attempts to discuss the fundamental ideas of the philosophy of science or lays out the methods comprehensively or in such detail. Experimentation has recently prospered because of increasing interest in cross-disciplinary syntheses, and this book of advice, guidelines, and observations underline its potential and increasing importance.
· Provides a comprehensive summary of issues in social science experimentation, from ethics to design, management, and financing
· Offers "how-to" explanations of the problems and challenges faced by everyone involved in social science experiments
· Pays attention to both practical problems and to theoretical and philosophical arguments
· Defines commonalities and distinctions within and among experimental situations across the social sciences
This collection of original chapters combines instructions and advice about the design of laboratory experiments in the social sciences with the array of other issues. While there are books on experimental design and chapters in more general methods books on design, theory, and ethical issues, no other book attempts to discuss the fundamental ideas of the philosophy of science or lays out the methods comprehensively or in such detail. Experimentation has recently prospered because of increasing interest in cross-disciplinary syntheses, and this book of advice, guidelines, and observations underline its potential and increasing importance.
· Provides a comprehensive summary of issues in social science experimentation, from ethics to design, management, and financing
· Offers "how-to" explanations of the problems and challenges faced by everyone involved in social science experiments
· Pays attention to both practical problems and to theoretical and philosophical arguments
· Defines commonalities and distinctions within and among experimental situations across the social sciences