Is There Selection Bias in Laboratory Experiments? The Case of Social and Risk Preferences

Laboratory experiments are frequently used to examine the nature of individual preferences and inform economic theory. However, it is unknown whether the preferences of volunteer participants are representative of the population from which the participants are drawn or whether they differ due to selection bias. We examine whether the social and risk preferences of participants in a laboratory experiment represent the preferences of the population from which they are recruited. To answer this question, we measured the preferences of 1,173 students in a classroom experiment. Separately, we invited all students to participate in a laboratory experiment. We find that the social and risk preferences of students who attend the laboratory experiment do not differ significantly from the preferences of the population from which they were recruited. Moreover, participation decisions based on social and risk preferences do not differ significantly across most subgroups, with the exception that female participants are on average less risk averse than female non-participants, and male participants are more risk averse than male non-participants.selection bias, laboratory experiments, external validity, social preferences, risk preferences

Is There Selection Bias in Laboratory Experiments?*

Do the social and risk preferences of participants in laboratory experiments represent the preferences of the population from which they are recruited? To answer this question, we conducted a classroom experiment with a population of 1,173 students using a trust game and a lottery choice task to measure individual preferences. Separately, all 1,173 students were invited to participate in a laboratory experiment. To determine whether selection bias exists, we compare the preferences of the individuals who eventually participated in a laboratory experiment to those in the population. We find that the social and risk preferences of the students participating in the laboratory experiment are not significantly different from the preferences of the population from which they were recruited. We further show that participation decisions across most subgroups (e.g., men vs. women) do not differ significantly. We therefore fail to find selection bias based on social and risk preferences.external validity; social preferences; selection bias; laboratory experiments; risk preferences

Economic Development in the Contemporary Global Environment: The Role of Place Branding as a Tool of Local Economic Development in Ontario, Canada

Over the past three decades, place branding has emerged as a strategy for local economic development for municipalities in Canada and globally, as communities seek to (re)assert themselves in a dynamic global economic market. Due to the infancy of the research domain – as it has only been in the last 15 years that place branding has received critical academic attention – there are several major lacunae within the existing scholarship: (i) current research is primarily focused on Europe; (ii) research has mainly focused on nation branding and the largest urban centres, so place branding within ‘typical’ municipalities is not well understood; (iii) there are few testable models or hypotheses that have been developed; (iv) most is conducted through one-off case studies, and therefore it is difficult to make generalizations or conclusions; and (v) most place branding privileges tourism attraction as the context of study. To expand existing research, a mixed-method approach was adopted drawing on statistical, spatial, and qualitative methods to explore the breadth and depth of the place branding issue in Ontario. Statistical analysis was used to examine the usage and message of place branding in Ontario’s municipalities (n = 414). Spatial analysis examined the underlying spatial pattern of the place brands, and attempted to find potential locations for municipal collaborations. Finally, in-depth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders connected with place branding process to gain insight into the background, rationale, process, and utility of place branding. The results of the three phases of research show that place branding is occurring in a majority of Ontario’s municipalities (in well over 90% municipalities). The distribution of place brands show that they are not random, and that municipalities with similar brands tend to cluster together, providing an opportunity for inter-regional collaborations. Finally, the results show that municipalities are using similar approaches to ensure economic advancement and that place branding is seen as critical component of local development. The findings call for the inclusion of place branding as a local strategy for economic growth; however, it requires readjustment in the brand positioning to allow greater effectiveness in attraction of target audiences

A Rating Scale for the Study of Social Behavior in Young Children

The social behavior of fifty children from one to five years of age was observed and analyzed for traits that should make up a rating scale for measuring social behavior in young children. The results of the analysis were compared with certain child behavior traits, called by Norsworthy and Whitley, social and non-social instincts; by Watson, emotions ; by Bolton, social traits, and by Gambrill, social attitudes. A preliminary graphic rating scale of twenty-six traits has been replaced by a more complete scale of thirty traits. The scale has five divisions extending from a decidedly high degree of the trait to a decided lack of the trait. At least three raters make ratings on each child

Pesquisa cientificamente fundamentada em uma era pós-verdad

In this article, I explore the tension between the current political context in which science needs defending against anti-intellectualism and outright assaults on evidence as a means of decision-making on the one hand and the overzealous scientism that can result from backlash against a perceived lack of rigor in various forms of inquiry. To do so, I return to the emergence of the discourse of scientifically based research (SBR) in education and the debates surrounding it (2002-2013), which have implications for how and why educational researchers would advocate for science and what that advocacy might do. Specifically, I argue that we must have a science that does not allow alternative facts and politically expedient truth claims while still allowing science to be flexible, responsive, and theoretically informed. I conclude by advocating for theoretically informed activism and non-innocent science.En este artículo, explotan la tensión entre el actual contexto político en que la ciencia necesita defenderse contra el antiintetismo y los asaltos directos a la evidencia como un medio de toma de decisión, por un lado, y el cientificismo excesivamente celoso que puede resultar de la reacción contraria falta de rigor en varias formas de investigación. Para ello, vuelvo al surgimiento del discurso de la investigación científicamente fundamentada (SBR) en la educación y en los debates que la rodean (2002-2013), que tienen implicaciones sobre cómo y por qué. hacer. Específicamente, argumento que debemos tener una ciencia que no permita hechos alternativos y reivindicaciones de verdad políticamente expeditas, mientras que todavía permite que la ciencia sea flexible, responsiva y teóricamente informada. Concluyo defendiendo el activismo teóricamente informado y la ciencia no inocente. Neste artigo, eu exploro a tensão entre o atual contexto político em que a ciência precisa se defender contra o antiintelectualismo e assaltos diretos à evidência como um meio de tomada de decisão, por um lado, e o cientificismo excessivamente zeloso que pode resultar da reação contrária falta de rigor em várias formas de investigação. Para tanto, volto ao surgimento do discurso da pesquisa cientificamente fundamentada (SBR) na educação e nos debates que a cercam (2002-2013), que têm implicações sobre como e por quê. fazer. Especificamente, argumento que devemos ter uma ciência que não permita fatos alternativos e reivindicações de verdade politicamente expeditas, enquanto ainda permite que a ciência seja flexível, responsiva e teoricamente informada. Concluo defendendo o ativismo teoricamente informado e a ciência não inocente

Gun Show Loophole Bills: A Study of Legislative Misdirection in 2009

In the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007, which left thirty-two students and faculty dead at the hands of a student armed with two handguns, gun-control organizations saw an opportunity to press their legislative agenda items forward with vigor. A host of gun-control bills were introduced in the 2008 and, to a lesser extent, the 2009 General Assembly sessions. For pro-gun groups, Virginia Tech\u27s policy of not allowing any guns on campus was more proof that gun control only disarms good people. These groups argued that criminals, by definition, ignore the law and will simply get their guns through illicit methods, such as theft or straw purchases, and use those guns to commit mayhem wherever they please

Review of Positive Psychologists on Positive Psychology

This 130-page e-book, Positive Psychologists on Positive Psychology by Aaron Jarden, explores topics that all positive psychologists, experienced or novice, researcher or practitioner, will find interesting. It’s original, it’s engaging and enjoyable plus it provides plenty of inside information. The concept is very straightforward – transcripts of thirteen personal interviews with a variety of positive psychology experts on their favourite topic. But don’t let that simplicity fool you - at the same time this book will challenge your understanding of what positive psychology is, how to apply it, and how the field is developing