Exploring whether behavior in context-free experiments is predictive of behavior in the field: Evidence from lab and field experiments in rural Sierra Leone

C-Tier
Journal: Economics Letters
Year: 2012
Volume: 114
Issue: 3
Pages: 308-311

Score contribution per author:

0.201 = (α=2.01 / 5 authors) × 0.5x C-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We use a sample of subsistence farmers in Sierra Leone as respondents to compare behavior in a context-free experiment (a standard public goods game) and behavior in the field (a real development intervention). There is no meaningful correlation in behavior across contexts. This casts doubt on the prospect of using lab experiments as “predictors” of behavior in real life.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:ecolet:v:114:y:2012:i:3:p:308-311
Journal Field
General
Author Count
5
Added to Database
2026-01-25