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Selective Trials: A Principal-Agent Approach to Randomized Controlled Experiments

Author(s): Chassang, Sylvain; Padró i Miquel, Gerard; Snowberg, Erik

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dc.contributor.authorChassang, Sylvain-
dc.contributor.authorPadró i Miquel, Gerard-
dc.contributor.authorSnowberg, Erik-
dc.date.accessioned2019-12-17T21:53:35Z-
dc.date.available2019-12-17T21:53:35Z-
dc.date.issued2012-06en_US
dc.identifier.citationChassang, Sylvain, Padró i Miquel, Gerard, Snowberg, Erik. (2012). Selective Trials: A Principal-Agent Approach to Randomized Controlled Experiments. American Economic Review, 102 (4), 1279 - 1309. doi:10.1257/aer.102.4.1279en_US
dc.identifier.issn0002-8282-
dc.identifier.urihttp://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/pr1d478-
dc.description.abstractWe study the design of randomized controlled experiments when outcomes are significantly affected by experimental subjects' unobserved effort expenditure. While standard randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are internally consistent, the unobservability of effort compromises external validity. We approach trial design as a principal-agent problem and show that natural extensions of RCTs-which we call selective trials-can help improve external validity. In particular, selective trials can disentangle the effects of treatment, effort, and the interaction of treatment and effort. Moreover, they can help identify when treatment effects are affected by erroneous beliefs and inappropriate effort expenditure.(JEL C90, D82)en_US
dc.format.extent1279 - 1309en_US
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.relation.ispartofAmerican Economic Reviewen_US
dc.rightsFinal published version. Article is made available in OAR by the publisher's permission or policy.en_US
dc.titleSelective Trials: A Principal-Agent Approach to Randomized Controlled Experimentsen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
dc.identifier.doidoi:10.1257/aer.102.4.1279-
pu.type.symplectichttp://www.symplectic.co.uk/publications/atom-terms/1.0/journal-articleen_US

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