Measuring job search

Last registered on September 09, 2026
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Measuring job search
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0019530
Initial registration date
August 31, 2026

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 09, 2026, 4:44 AM EDT

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

Locations

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

Primary Investigator

Name
Andrew Simon
Affiliation
University of Virginia
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Justin Holz
PI Affiliation
University of Michigan
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Faisal Kattan
PI Affiliation
University of Chicago
Contact Investigator
PI Name
John List
PI Affiliation
University of Chicago
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2026-08-31
End date
2026-12-31
Keywords
Labor
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
In this project, we vary how we elicit job search behavior among the unemployed.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Holz, Justin et al. 2026. "Measuring job search." AEA RCT Registry. September 09. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.19530-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
We will measure labor force participation in several ways.
Intervention Start Date
2026-08-31
Intervention End Date
2026-12-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Indications of whether the individual is actively seeking work (directly observed in control and inferred from the double list experiment).
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We will randomize how we ask about labor force participation.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Randomization done in office by computer.
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
2000
Sample size: planned number of observations
2000
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Direct response: 670
List A: 667
List B: 670
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 Chicago
IRB Approval Date
2024-05-20
IRB Approval Number
IRB24-0892
Analysis Plan