The Effect of Experimenter Demand on Inference by Alistair Wilson

Join us for this week's event in the Behavioural, Experimental and Development Economics Seminar Series, Autumn Term 2024

Join Alistair Wilson, from the Department of Economics, University of Pittsburgh, as they present their research on The Effect of Experimenter Demand on Inference.

Abstract

To assess the threat of experimenter demand, we ask whether a hypothetical 'ill-intentioned' researcher can manipulate inference. Four classic behavioral comparative statics are evaluated, and the potential for false inference is gauged by differentially applying strong positive and negative experimenter demand across the relevant decision pair. Evaluating three different subject pools (laboratory, Prolific, and MTurk) we find no evidence of experimenter demand eliminating or reversing directional effects. The response to experimenter demand is very limited for all three subject pools and is not large enough to generate false negatives, though we do find evidence of false positives when testing precise nulls in larger online-subject pools.

This seminar will be held in the Economics Common Room on Wednesday 23 October, at 11.00am. This event is open to all levels of study and is also open to the public. To register your place, please contact the seminar organisers.

This event is part of the Behavioural, Experimental, and Development Economics Research Seminar Series.