Format

Send to:

Choose Destination
  • Filters activated: Field: Title Word. Clear all
See comment in PubMed Commons below
Science. 2009 Oct 23;326(5952):535-8. doi: 10.1126/science.1168244.

Lab experiments are a major source of knowledge in the social sciences.

Author information

  • 1Centre for Economic Policy Research, Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute for Economic Research, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), and University of Bonn, 53113 Bonn, Germany.

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 past 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.

PMID:
19900889
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
PubMed Commons home

PubMed Commons

0 comments
How to join PubMed Commons

    Supplemental Content

    Full text links

    Icon for HighWire
    Loading ...
    Write to the Help Desk