From the lab to the poll: The use of survey experiments in political research

• Sergio Martini ^[1] ; Francesco Olmastroni ^[1]
  1. [1] Università degli Studi di Siena

     Università degli Studi di Siena

     Siena, Italia

     
• Localización: Rivista italiana di scienza politica, ISSN 0048-8402, ISSN-e 2057-4908, Vol. 51, Nº. 2, 2021 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Capturing Causation: Issues of Research Design in Political Science), págs. 231-249
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1017/ipo.2021.20
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • The article offers an overview of the use of survey experiments in political research by relying on available examples, bibliographic data and a content analysis of experimental manuscripts published in leading academic journals over the last two decades. After a short primer to the experimental approach, we discuss the development, applications and potential problems to internal and external validity in survey experimentation. The article also provides original examples, contrasting a traditional factorial and a more innovative conjoint design, to show how survey experiments can be used to test theory on relevant political topics. The main challenges and possibilities encountered in envisaging, planning and implementing survey experiments are examined. The article outlines the merits, limits and implications of the use of the experimental method in political research.