Right to protest during wartime

Last registered on September 20, 2023
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Right to protest during wartime
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0012132
Initial registration date
September 15, 2023

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
September 20, 2023, 10:52 AM EDT

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

Locations

Country
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Olga Onuch
Affiliation
University of Manchester
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
David Doyle
PI Affiliation
University of Manchester
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Francisco Espinoza
PI Affiliation
University of Manchester
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2023-09-08
End date
2023-12-31
Keywords
Behavior, Crime, Violence, & Conflict
Additional Keywords
Ukraine, protest, war, economy
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This study includes an experimental design to study agreement with the suspension of the right to protest due to martial law in the context of war.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Doyle, David , Francisco Espinoza and Olga Onuch. 2023. "Right to protest during wartime." AEA RCT Registry. September 20. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.12132-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
The study randomizes two groups and explores their support for protests during wartime in Ukraine.
Intervention Start Date
2023-09-08
Intervention End Date
2023-09-30

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
The first aim is to measure support for the suspension of the right to peacefully protest during wartime in Ukraine.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
It is expected that support for the suspension of the right to protest could be conditioned to information on economic concerns and the role of government. While the implementation of martial law during war context could pamper higher levels of support for the suspension of the right to protest, daily economic concerns such as food availability and prices rising could orient people to believe in

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
This study utilizes phone interviews with a randomly selected group of people from Ukraine's population. The survey agency KIIS generates random cell phone numbers using a computer. KIIS then contacts the chosen phone numbers, and if an adult answers, invites them to participate in the interview. If the number is invalid or the person who answers is unable to participate, the interviewer moves on to the next number.

Participants will be randomly allocated in two parallel groups. One of those groups constitutes the control group; while the other is the treated group and will receive a statement.
Experimental Design Details
It is expected that support for the suspension of the right to protest could be conditioned to information on economic concerns and the role of government. While the implementation of martial law during war context could pamper higher levels of support for the suspension of the right to protest, daily economic concerns such as food availability and prices rising could orient people to believe in

Experimental Design Details

This study utilizes phone interviews with a randomly selected group of people from Ukraine's population. The survey agency KIIS generates random cell phone numbers using a computer. KIIS then contacts the chosen phone numbers, and if an adult answers, invites them to participate in the interview. If the number is invalid or the person who answers is unable to participate, the interviewer moves on to the next number.

Participants will be randomly allocated in two parallel groups. One of those groups constitutes the control group; while the other is the treated group and will receive a statement.

The statements are presented below:

Group 1 [control]
No prime

Group 2 [treated]
Some reports show that some people have experienced increasingly difficult economic circumstances. Specifically, the cost of food is higher, and it is unlikely that the government will be able to keep the cost of food down this coming winter.

Question [control and treated]
To what extent do you agree the government is correct to suspend the right to peaceful assembly and protest during wartime?
1. Completely agree
2. Somewhat agree
3. Somewhat disagree
4. Completely disagree
97. Hard to say
98. Refuse
Randomization Method
KIIS follows a standard randomization software to achieve randomization of treatment.
Randomization Unit
individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
0
Sample size: planned number of observations
2,000 respondents, all adult residents of Ukraine
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Approximately 1,000 respondents per arm
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
University of Manchester Ethics Committee 4
IRB Approval Date
2023-09-04
IRB Approval Number
2023-7489-30952
Analysis Plan

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Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials