Abstract
A variety of ethical considerations in designing, conducting, and reporting both laboratory and field experiments in economics are reviewed. An important area of ethical concern in experimental economics stems from its use of human subjects. The standards used by Institutional Review Boards to sanction research using human subjects are expounded upon, with an emphasis on application to economics experiments. The authors draw from other experimental researchers and from their own experience to discuss issues related to the interaction of experimenter and subject—e.g., deception, informed consent, blindness, and monetary incentives—and issues related to the interaction of experimenter and consumer of research—e.g., the reporting of negative results, pilot data, or details of the experiment that may offer alternative interpretations of results.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Barrett, C. B., & Carter, M. R. (2010). The power and pitfalls of experiments in development economics: Some non-random reflections. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 32(4), 515–548.
Bertrand, M., Djankov, S., Hanna, R., & Mullainathan, S. (2007). Obtaining a driver’s license in India: An experimental approach to studying corruption. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 122(4), 1639–1676.
Burger, J. M. (2009). Replicating Milgram: Would people still obey today? American Psychologist, 64(1), 1–11.
Burtless, G. (1995). The case for randomized field trials in economic and policy research. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 9(2), 63–84.
Dearman, D. T., & Beard, J. E. (2009). Ethical issues in accounting and economics experimental research: Inducing strategic misrepresentation. Ethics and Behavior, 19(1), 51–59.
Elms, A. C. (1972). Social psychology and social relevance. Boston, MA: Little, Brown.
Gugerty, M. K., & Kremer, M. (2008). Outside funding and the dynamics of participation in community associations. American Journal of Political Science, 52(3), 585–602.
Harmon, A. (2010). New drugs stir debate on rules of clinical trials. New York Times, September 19, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/health/research/19trial.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
Harrison, G. W., & List, J. A. (2004). Field experiments. Journal of Economic Literature, 42(4), 1009–1055.
Heckman, J. J. (1998). Detecting discrimination. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 12(2), 101–116.
Hegtvedt, K. A. (2007). Ethics and experiments. In W. Murray & S. Jane (Eds.), Laboratory experiments in the social sciences. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Hertwig, R., & Ortmann, A. (2001). Experimental practices in economics: A methodological challenge for psychologists? Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 24(3), 383–403.
Johnson, E. J., & Goldstein, D. (2003). Do defaults save lives? Science, 302(5649), 1338–1339.
MacCoun, R. J., & Kerr, N. L. (1987). Suspicion in the psychological laboratory: Kelman’s prophecy revisited. American Psychologist, 42, 199.
Madrian, B., & Shea, D. (2001). The power of suggestion: Inertia in 401(k) participation and savings behavior. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 116, 1149–1187.
Milgram, S. (1963). Behavioral study of obedience. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67, 371–378.
Milgram, S. (1965). Some conditions of obedience and disobedience to authority. Human Relations, 18, 57–76.
Milgram, S. (1974). Obedience to authority: An experimental view. New York: Harper & Row.
Nofsinger, J. (2009). Opt-in and opt-out pension design. Psychology Today, August 30, 2009. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mind-my-money/200908/opt-in-and-opt-out-pension-design
Thaler, R. (2009). Opting in vs. opting out. New York Times, September 26, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/business/economy/27view.html
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ifcher, J., Zarghamee, H. (2016). Ethics and Experimental Economics. In: Searing, E., Searing, D. (eds) Practicing Professional Ethics in Economics and Public Policy. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7306-5_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7306-5_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-017-7305-8
Online ISBN: 978-94-017-7306-5
eBook Packages: Economics and FinanceEconomics and Finance (R0)