AEA RCT Registry currently lists 12160 studies with locations in 170 countries.
This study investigates whether living in US deindustrialized communities could lead to a disconnect in attitudes towards government and likelihood of applying to government. We hypothesize that individuals living in deindustrialized communities have negative attitudes towards government due to perceived first-hand experience interactions with government services. However, since government jobs are the last "off-shoreable" job in the labor market, we hypothesize, despite negative attitudes toward government, these individuals are more likely to apply to government jobs. We set out to test the following RQs: 1. RQ1: Do people located in deindustrialized areas report a large gap between negative attitudes toward government and interest in government employment, all else equal? 2. R...
This project assesses the extent to which bots and LLMs are used in the online market for survey responses, and how survey payments and performance-based bonuses affect adverse selection (low-quality or automated respondents entering the survey sample) and moral hazard (human workers using LLMs instead of providing authentic responses). We further test whether technical prevention tools and moral persuasion & penalties reduce LLM-generated responses.
Teachers often play an important role in advising students about post-secondary educational choices. In settings where students apply to a limited number of programs defined by university–major pairs, guidance from teachers can influence both the selectivity of universities students target and their choice of major. However, relatively little is known about how teachers form recommendations when advising students who differ in gender, academic profiles, and family backgrounds. The objective of this study is to examine the determinants of teachers’ guidance decisions. We conduct a survey experiment with high school teachers in which respondents evaluate hypothetical student profiles and provide recommendations about suitable university program targets. The profiles randomly vary along...
This study investigates whether a sustainable practice and accreditation scheme can reduce energy use in science laboratories. To test this, we conduct a field experiment in which lab groups are randomly assigned to either receive the sustainability program or serve as a control group. The sustainability program consists of information on sustainability practices tailored to research laboratories, calculators to help labs estimate their energy use, and a certification scheme that recognizes labs for completing sustainable actions. The experiment is implemented among lab groups at a large European research university, where laboratory activities are energy-intensive and the university has ambitious decarbonization goals.
This study investigates the effectiveness of social media posts from small businesses.
This project evaluates the effects of online cognitive training on labor market-related behaviors and outcomes and cognitive skills among university students in Ukraine. We implement a randomized controlled trial in which students are assigned to treatment at the cohort level, defined as university x study field x study year. All participants register on the J4UA job search platform, complete a baseline survey that includes a skill assessment and have access to the J4UA job search engine. The job search engine shows the vacancies of the search job and the vacancies to nine recommended occupations. Cohorts assigned to the treatment group receive invitations to complete online cognitive training sessions over a four-week period. Outcomes are measured at midline and endline and in a fo...
Background and target population As part of the fiscal year 2021-22 budget agreed to by California’s Governor and the Legislature, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is providing support and oversight for five pilot programs conducting a randomized controlled trial of guaranteed income (GI). The intervention targets two unique low-income populations facing a key life transition that puts them at higher risk for adverse outcomes: youth aging out of extended foster care and pregnant people. Eligibility criteria The eligibility criteria for each target population is as follows: Former foster youth (FFY) - Low-income according to Insight Center’s Family Needs Calculator based on county of residence and household composition at time of application - Exiting/exited ...
This study evaluates whether empowering teachers to design and use artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring tools can improve student learning and engagement in after-school educational programs in Spain. Despite sustained investment in remedial education, teachers continue to face challenges in tailoring instruction to students’ diverse learning levels and needs. Through a no-code platform, teachers in treatment centers receive training and coaching to create and adapt AI tutoring chatbots aligned with curricular goals and student learning profiles. The chatbots provide adaptive practice and feedback during after-school sessions, complementing, rather than replacing, human instruction. The study will use a cluster-randomized controlled trial across multiple sites and regions in Spain, wit...
There is growing interest in whether Generative AI technology has the potential to transform education and offer personalized learning for all. Early research, however, shows challenges with implementation and structure for getting students to use it effectively. To test AI's potential and develop best practices for engaging students, we propose a student-level, within-class randomized evaluation of NUMI, an online platform designed for research that pairs mastery pacing with a guard-railed AI math tutor. In partnership with the Hamilton County Department of Education (HCDE) and at least 50-70 Grades 4-9 teachers (~1,500-2,100 students), each trimester students are randomly assigned in a 2x2 design — Mastery vs. no Mastery; AI-Tutor vs. no AI-Tutor. We will measure immediate learning on...
Political connections shape access to economic opportunities in many developing countries, yet little is known about how they influence educational and occupational choices before labor-market entry. This paper argues that political connections act as an informal insurance device in rigid labor markets by increasing access to desirable public-sector jobs. Anticipating these advantages, connected individuals are more likely to invest in education and pursue public-sector careers. Using household survey data from Benin, we show that politically connected individuals are more likely to aspire to top-tier public-sector occupations, less likely to pursue entrepreneurship, less likely to drop out of school, and more likely to aspire to higher education. To further examine the underlying mecha...