Laboratory Experiments in the Social Sciences

While there are many books available on statistical analysis of data from experiments, there is significantly less available on the design, development, and actual conduct of the experiments. Laboratory Experiments in the Social Sciences summarizes how to design and conduct scientifically sound experiments, be they from surveys, interviews, observations, or experimental methods. The book encompasses how to collect reliable data, the appropriate uses of different methods, and how to avoid or resolve common problems in experimental research. Case study examples illustrate how multiple methods can be used to answer the same research questions and what kinds of outcome would result from each methodology. Sound data begins with effective data collection. This book will assist students and professionals alike in sociology, marketing, political science, anthropology, economics, and psychology.

Inhalt

Part I - Designing and Conducting Experiments
1. Why Do Experiments?

2. Ethics and Experiments
3. Logical and Philosophical Foundations of Experimental Research in the Social Sciences
4. Training Interviewers and Experimenters
5. Human Participants in Laboratory Experiments in the Social Sciences
6. Developing Your Experiment

7. Common Problems and Solutions in Experiments

   Part II - Experiments Across the Social Sciences
   8. Laboratory Experiments in Sociology

8. Experiments on Exchange Relations and Exchange Networks in Sociology
9. Social Dilemma Experiments in Sociology, Psychology, Political Science and Economics
10. Hypotheses, Operationalizations, and Manipulation Checks
11. The Standardized Experimental Situation in Expectation States Research: Notes on History, Uses, and Special Features
12. Experimental Political Science
13. Voting and Agenda Setting in Political Science and Economics
14. Economic Games for Social Scientists
15. Solving Coordination Problems, Experimentally
16. Experimental Studies of Media Stereotyping Effects
17. Judgment and Decision-Making

18. Experiments in Organizational Behavior

    Part III - Applied Research and Proposals
    20. Conducting Applied Experimental Research

19. Funding Experiments, Writing Proposals