Laboratory Experiments in the Social Sciences (eBook)

Cover 1
Laboratory Experiments in the Social Sciences 4
Copyright Page 5
Dedication Page 6
Contents 8
Preface 16
Contributors 20
Part I: Introduction to the Philosophy of Experimentation 24
Chapter 1: Why Do Experiments? 28
I. A Brief History of Experiments 29
II. Comparisons to Other Designs Used in Social Science Research 32
III. Advantages and Disadvantages of Experiments 34
IV. Steps in Conducting Experimental Research 38
V. The Place of Experiments in Social Science 44
VI. How This Book Can Help 45
References 46
Chapter 2: Experiments and the Science of Sociology 48
I. Introduction 48
II. Experimentation in Sociology 49
III. Two Kinds of Experiments 50
IV. Examples of Empiricist and Theory-Driven Experiments 58
V. Artificiality, Simplicity, and Implications Outside the Lab 73
VI. Conclusions 75
Acknowledgments 77
References 77
Chapter 3: Logical and Philosophical Foundations of Experimental Research in the Social Sciences 80
I. Introduction 80
II. Clues to Causation 82
III. Mill’s Canons and Inferring Causality 86
IV. Fisher’s Solution and Hallmarks of Experimentation 89
V. Fisher’s Premature Burial and Posthumous Resurrection 91
VI. Simple Designs and Threats to Internal Validity 94
VII. Using Experimental Design to Resolve Problems of Internal Validity 98
VIII. Varieties of Experiments in the Social Sciences 101
IX. External Validity and Artificiality 104
X. Conclusion 107
Acknowledgments 108
References 108
Chapter 4: The External Validity of Experiments That Test Theories 110
I. Problem 110
II. What Is External Validity? 113
III. Implications 119
IV. Summary and Conclusion 131
References 132
Chapter 5: Hypotheses, Operationalizations, and Manipulation Checks 136
I. Introduction 136
II. Hypotheses 138
III. The Experiment 142
IV. Operationalizations and Manipulations 144
V. On Particular Features 146
VI. Further Comments on Operationalizations 149
VII. Manipulation Checks 152
VIII. Further Comments on Manipulation Checks 154
IX. Summary and Conclusions 156
Acknowledgments 156
References 156
Part II: Designing and Conducting Experiments 160
Chapter 6: Ethics and Experiments 164
I. Introduction 164
II. Defining Ethics in Research 167
III. Ethical Issues in Laboratory Experiments 169
IV. Meeting Regulatory Requirements 182
V. Conclusions 192
Acknowledgments 193
References 193
Chapter 7: Technological Issues Related to Experiments 196
I. Introduction 197
II. Defining Technology 198
III. The Role of Technology in Creating Experimental Settings 198
IV. The Role of Technology in Operationalizing Independent Variables 201
V. Technologies as Independent Variables 204
VI. The Role of Technology in Operationalizing Dependent Variables 206
VII. Summary and Conclusion: Preparing for the Future of Technology in Laboratory Experiments 211
Acknowledgments 212
References 212
Chapter 8: Funding Experiments, Writing Proposals 216
I. Why Write a Proposal? 216
II. Special Problems of Experimental Research in the Social Sciences 220
III. The Structure of Research Funding Roles and Role Behaviors and Some Terms
IV. Research Programs and Proposals 226
V. Preparation for Writing a Proposal 228
VI. Sections of Proposals 230
VII. Some Tips on Proposal Preparation and Writing Styles 239
VIII. Some Stylistic Suggestions 241
IX. What Happens Next? 244
X. Successful and Unsuccessful Proposals 246
Acknowledgments 247
Further Reading 247
Chapter 9: Developing Your Experiment 248
I. Introduction 248
II. Designing the Experiment 249
III. The Gender ExperimentŽ: A Practical Example of Abstract Considerations 254
IV. Pretesting and Pilot Testing 257
V. Analyzing and Interpreting Data 260
VI. Summary 265
Acknowledgments 265
References 265
Chapter 10: Human Participants in Laboratory Experiments in the Social Sciences 266
I. Introduction 266
II. Human Participants in Psychology 268
III. Participants in Sociology 277
IV. Participants in Political Science 282
V. Conclusion 286
References 286
Chapter 11: Training Interviewers and Experimenters 290
I. Introduction 290
II. Preliminaries 291
III. Experiments as Theater 293
IV. Preparing the Assistant for the Role 295
V. Training for Specific Tasks 298
VI. Compensation 302
VII. Experimental Staff as a Group 303
VIII. Training for Postsession Interviews 306
IX. Establishing a Mentor Role 308
X. Concluding Remarks 310
Acknowledgments 311
References 311
Chapter 12: Common Problems and Solutions 312
I. Introduction 312
II. Relations with the Larger Department or Program 313
III. Experimental Manipulations and Deception 316
IV. Experimental Design Issues 322
V. Running Experiments Using Confederates 324
VI. Developing Procedures 327
VII. Pretesting 329
VIII. Videotape 332
IX. Maintaining a Subject Pool 338
X. Payment and Credit Issues 344
XI. Experimenter Effects 345
References 347
Part III: Experiments Across the Social Sciences 348
Chapter 13: Conducting Applied Experimental Research 352
I. Conducting Applied Experimental Research 352
II. Basic and Applied Research 356
III. The Role of Theory in Applied Experimental Research 358
IV. Developing a Proposal and Generating Funding for Applied Experimental Research 359
V. Conducting Applied Experimental Research 365
VI. Presenting Research Results 370
VII. Summary 371
References 372
Chapter 14: The Standardized Experimental Situation in Expectation States Research: Notes on History, Uses, and Special Features 376
I. Introduction 376
II. On the Construction of SES 378
III. The Graph Formulation of Status Characteristic Theory 384
IV. Uses and Special Features of SES 386
IV. Some Concluding Comments 393
Appendix 394
I. Metatheoretical Components 394
II. Theoretical Components 394
III. Theory-Based Empirical Models 396
Acknowledgments 396
References 396
Chapter 15: Experiments on Exchange Relations and Exchange Networks in Sociology 402
I. Introduction 402
II. Background and Development 403
III. Standard Settings and Designs 409
IV. Technological Developments 416
V. Some Examples of Exchange Experiments 418
VI. Assessment and Future Prospects 426
References 428
Further Reading 429
Chapter 16: Solving Coordination Problems, Experimentally 430
I. Introduction 430
II. Background and Development 431
III. Design and Implementation of Coordination Experiments in Economics 438
IV. Technological Developments 440
V. Examples 442
VI. Assessment 450
Acknowledgments 452
References 452
Chapter 17: Voting and Agenda Setting in Political Science and Economics 456
I. Introduction 456
II. The Canonical Experiment 457
III. Equilibrium and Disequilibrium 465
IV. Agendas 473
V. Asymmetric Relations 475
VI. Equilibrium and Disequilibrium, Redux 477
Acknowledgments 478
References 478
Chapter 18: Social Dilemma Experiments in Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, and Economics 482
I. Introduction 482
II. Different Kinds of Social Dilemmas 483
III. Rejection of the Strong Free-Riding Hypothesis 488
IV. Testing Payoff Properties 490
V. What Group Members Know About Each Other 492
VI. New Directions and New Strategies 497
References 500
Part IV: Experiments in the Twenty-First Century 504
Chapter 19: Experimental Political Science 506
I. Introduction 506
II. Historical Development 507
III. Contemporary Examples 510
IV. Assessment and Challenges 513
V. Potentials for Future Work 513
VI. Challenges 516
VII. Conclusions 517
References 517
Chapter 20: Economic Games for Social Scientists 520
I. Introduction 520
II.Methodology 523
III. Discussion and Conclusion 534
Acknowledgments 536
References 536
Chapter 21: Laboratory Experiments in Sociology 540
I. Introduction 540
II. Effect Experiments 518 541
III. Effect Research Programs 542
IV. Theoretically Oriented Experiments 543
V. Theoretical Research Programs 546
VI. Assessment 548
VII. Challenge 551
References 553
Index 556