Welcome to the Field Experiment Explorer
This interactive application transforms a comprehensive research report on field experiments into an engaging learning experience. Field experiments are a powerful tool for understanding causal relationships in the real world, bridging the gap between controlled lab studies and the complexity of everyday life. Here, you can move beyond static text to visually explore, compare, and understand the core concepts, challenges, and landmark studies that define this vital scientific method.
Use the navigation on the left to journey through the key themes. Compare different experimental types in the Explorer, see the trade-offs in the Spectrum of Fieldness, walk through the research process, discover groundbreaking Case Studies, and look ahead to The Frontier of experimentation.
Experiment Explorer
How do field experiments stack up against other research methods? Select an experiment type to see its profile. This section allows you to visually compare methods based on their key strengths and weaknesses, helping you understand the crucial trade-offs researchers make when choosing a design.
The Spectrum of "Fieldness"
Not all field experiments are the same. The Harrison-List typology classifies them along a spectrum from more controlled to more naturalistic. This section breaks down that spectrum, showing how the research context and participant awareness change across different types of field experiments and what that means for research findings and ethics.
Design & Challenges
Running a successful field experiment is a complex journey, part scientific process and part project management. This section visualizes the key stages of designing an experiment. It also highlights the common methodological hurdles researchers must overcome, such as participants dropping out or the intervention's effects spilling over to the control group.
Anatomy of a Field Experiment
Common Challenges
Landmark Cases
Field experiments have produced transformative insights across social policy, political science, economics, and business. This gallery showcases some of the most influential studies, from testing the impact of cash transfers on poverty to revealing discrimination in labor markets. Click on a card to learn about the study's design, its groundbreaking findings, and its lasting impact.
The Frontier
The field is constantly evolving. Researchers are developing new methods to understand not just *if* an intervention works, but *for whom* it works best. They are tackling the difficult "problem of scale"—why small pilots often fail when rolled out widely—and navigating complex ethical questions. This section explores the cutting edge of field experimentation.