Russian TV Channel Consumption in Latvia: A List Experimental Study

Last registered on January 24, 2024
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Russian TV Channel Consumption in Latvia: A List Experimental Study
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0012856
Initial registration date
January 18, 2024

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
January 19, 2024, 2:19 PM EST

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

Last updated
January 24, 2024, 1:06 PM EST

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

Locations

Country
Latvia
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Andris Saulitis
Affiliation
University of Latvia
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2024-01-23
End date
2024-02-23
Keywords
Behavior, Crime, Violence, & Conflict
Additional Keywords
Media consumption
JEL code(s)
K42, D19
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This study aims to identify to what extent the Latvian population consumes Russian propaganda channels that are banned in Latvia. Additionally, the study aims to identify sensitivity bias in Russian media consumption by employing a list experimental design.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Saulitis, Andris. 2024. "Russian TV Channel Consumption in Latvia: A List Experimental Study." AEA RCT Registry. January 24. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.12856-1.1
Sponsors & Partners

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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2024-01-23
Intervention End Date
2024-02-23

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
The average number of statements reported by respondents in the two experimental groups.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
The behaviors listed will be as followed:
• Subscribed to a newspaper or magazine (including e-version or news portal)
• Spoke to the President in person
• Travelled to a country outside the European Union
• Talked about politics with my friends or relatives
• Watched Russian television channels (including over the Internet) that are banned in Latvia [only in the treatment group]

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
To address this and accurately gauge the level of sensitivity bias, this study incorporates a placebo test involving five distinct, nonsensitive behaviours. This list is designed to serve as a control, ensuring that any observed effects are due to the sensitive nature of tax evasion questions rather than the list length.
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)
The behaviors listed will be as followed:
• Participated in a survey
• Bought a flat or house (also on credit)
• Visited an active war zone
• Got vaccinated against the flu
• Have exercised regularly (at least once a week) [only in the treatment group]

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
This study employs a traditional list experiment to uncover the extent of Russian TV channel consumption and to assess whether it gains sensitivity bias. Participants are randomly assigned to a control or treatment group. The control group receives a list of four morally neutral or insensitive behaviours unrelated to Russian media consumption. Respondents are not asked to indicate which particular behaviour they have carried out but only the sum of behaviours. The treatment group receives a list alongside the four behaviours presented to the control group, including a fifth behaviour on the consumption of Russian television channels. Later in the survey, the sensitive question about Russian TV channel consumption is asked separately and directly to all respondents to estimate the degree of sensitivity bias and the assessment of ignorable treatment assignment, that is, that the assignment of participants to treatment or control groups does not influence their responses to the direct question about media consumption
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization is done by a pollster company via computer
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
3300 respondents
Sample size: planned number of observations
3300 respondents
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
3300 respondents
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials

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IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Ethics Board of Vidzeme Applied University
IRB Approval Date
2024-01-12
IRB Approval Number
2024/1
Analysis Plan

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