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Best Practices in Testing Behavioral Mechanisms

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Behavioral Insights for Policy Design

Abstract

As discussed in the previous chapter, vignette experiments can be a cost-effective strategy to assess the plausibility of different structural and behavioral mechanisms. But designing these experiments is typically not straightforward. After all, what people say is not always what they believe in, and what they ultimately do is not always aligned with their stated intentions. This chapter compiles best practices and common mistakes in testing structural and behavioral mechanisms behind social problems using vignette experiments.

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Suggested Readings

  • Harrits, G. S., & Møller, M. Ø. (2021). Qualitative Vignette Experiments: A Mixed Methods Design. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 15(4), 526–545. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689820977607

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  • Freedman G, Seidman M, Flanagan M, Green MC, Kaufman G. Updating a Classic: A New Generation of Vignette Experiments Involving Iterative Decision Making. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science. 2018;1(1):43-59. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/2515245917742982

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  • Hainmueller, Jens & Hangartner, Dominik & Yamamoto, Teppei. (2015). Validating Vignette and Conjoint Survey Experiments Against Real-World Behavior. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 112. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1416587112.

  • Sheringham, J., Kuhn, I. & Burt, J. The use of experimental vignette studies to identify drivers of variations in the delivery of healthcare: a scoping review. BMC Med Res Methodol 21, 81 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-021-01247-4

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  • Steiner, Peter M. et al. “Designing Valid and Reliable Vignette Experiments for Survey Research: A Case Study on the Fair Gender Income Gap.” Journal of Methods and Measurement in the Social Sciences 7 (2017): 52-94.

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Lichand, G., Serdeira, A.d.P., Rizardi, B. (2023). Best Practices in Testing Behavioral Mechanisms. In: Behavioral Insights for Policy Design. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33034-6_9

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