IEA Behavioural Economics Network

Trials and Tribulations: Lessons from Field Experiments

Field experiments offer a powerful way to test interventions and generate evidence for policy, but they can be challenging to design and implement. This workshop will highlight the practical realities of running field experiments, with a particular focus on the Irish context.

The workshop will feature a keynote address by Dr Daniel Schwartz, who will draw on his experience conducting large-scale field experiments in areas including medical and financial decision-making. In addition to research findings, he will reflect on the behind-the-scenes aspects of field experimentation, highlighting the factors that can determine whether a trial succeeds or falls short.

The keynote will be complemented by a series of short presentations showcasing field experiments that have been implemented – or not – in Ireland. Together, the workshop will cover practical lessons on data collection, ethics and the organisational and contextual factors that can make or break a field trial. The workshop is intended for researchers, policymakers and others interested in using experimental methods to generate real-world evidence.

Dr. Daniel Schwartz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Chile and a researcher at the Institute of Complex Engineering Systems. His research uses behavioral economics, consumer behavior and large-scale field experiments to understand how people respond to incentives and information across areas including energy use, financial decision-making, health behaviors, consumer protection and prosocial behavior. He holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Behavioral Decision Research from Carnegie Mellon University and was previously a Research Fellow at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. 

To register for this event, please email behaviouraleconomicsnetwork@gmail.com 

Agenda

14:00 – Registration 

14:15 – Beyond the Results: Insights from Field Experiments, Dr Daniel Schwartz (University of Chile)

15:00 – Coffee break (light snacks provided with thanks to the Irish Economics Association)

15:30 – Lessons from Field Experiments to Encourage Home Retrofitting, Dr Hannah Julienne (SEAI) 

15:45 – Lessons from Field Experiments to Measure Discrimination, Dr Daniel Capistrano (ESRI)

16:00 – Lessons from Field Experiments on Financial, Environmental and Cyber Risks, by Dr Shane Timmons (ESRI)

16:15 – Panel Discussion, chaired by Prof. Pete Lunn (ESRI)

16:45 – Close