Air Quality Sensor Adoption and Use

Last registered on March 31, 2023
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Air Quality Sensor Adoption and Use
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0010173
Initial registration date
October 26, 2022

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
October 31, 2022, 3:42 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Last updated
March 31, 2023, 4:13 PM EDT

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Name
Alexander Dangel
Affiliation
Heidelberg University
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Timo Goeschl
PI Affiliation
Heidelberg University
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Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2022-10-31
End date
2023-10-31
Keywords
Behavior, Environment & Energy
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
In recent years, individuals began producing air quality data (AQD) by purchasing and using air quality sensors. At a low cost to adopters, this personalized, real-time AQD can inform individual decision-making (e.g. air pollution responses) and contribute to publicly available pollution maps. Recent research shows that socioeconomic status predicts air quality sensor adoption, potentially exacerbating existing spatial inequalities in AQD and health damages from air pollution. However, willingness to pay for this technology and its usage patterns are not yet well understood, in particular among different socioeconomic groups. We conduct a field experiment in a socioeconomically heterogeneous, high pollution setting in the United States to evaluate the adoption and use of low-cost air quality sensors.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Dangel, Alexander and Timo Goeschl. 2023. "Air Quality Sensor Adoption and Use ." AEA RCT Registry. March 31. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.10173-2.0
Sponsors & Partners

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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2022-10-31
Intervention End Date
2023-10-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
We are interested in the following variables: 1) willingness to pay for sensor, 2) sensor adoption rate, and 3) sensor usage rate.



Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We conduct a field study that randomly assigns households to two treatments: 1) willingness to pay elicitation type and 2) sensor offer price.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Randomization by computer.
Randomization Unit
We randomize at the individual level (WTP elicitation type and offer level).
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
Approximately 1,000 individuals
Sample size: planned number of observations
Approximately 1,000 individuals
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Approximately 50 individuals free sensor with hypothetical WTP question,
Approximately 50 individuals free sensor with MPL questions,
Approximately 150 individuals low price with hypothetical WTP question,
Approximately 150 individuals low price with MPL questions,
Approximately 150 individuals medium price with hypothetical WTP question,
Approximately 150 individuals medium price with MPL questions,
Approximately 150 individuals high price with hypothetical WTP question,
Approximately 150 individuals high price with MPL questions
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Heidelberg University Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences Institutional Review Board
IRB Approval Date
2022-10-13
IRB Approval Number
FESS-HD-2022_005
Analysis Plan