Survey Experiment in Social Sciences

Schedule: 11-12 August, 2025 (09.30-15.30 Jakarta Time)

About

Survey experiments, which leverage the power of experimental design, are widely used in political and social science across multiple subfields. By combining the causal inference gained by randomization with the opportunities of surveys to target populations of interest, they open up research to new questions and the rigour of analysis.

This course will provide an overview of the main techniques of survey experiments, including question order, list, vignette, and conjoint experiments. We will use published research, particularly on Southeast Asia, and provide an opportunity for students to begin creating their own survey-experimental research design.

The masterclass takes place over two days, with four modules of three hours.

Instructor

Harry Dienes

Affiliation: Cornell University

Harry Dienes is a PhD Candidate at Cornell University, interested in electoral accountability and the politics of bureaucracy. He thinks about how states can become better at delivering services, how and why citizens make demands on government, and the political incentives that underpin those dynamics. He is conducting a number of experimental studies, including two survey experiments in Indonesia, and lab-in-the field and field experiments in Ethiopia. He hopes to help you develop proficiency in designing and implementing your own survey experiments