Experimental Methods in the Social Sciences

NOTE: Usually taught every fall semester.

Fall 2025: SOC 681

10:30am - 11:45pm Tues/Thurs

CRN: 29901

Spring 2023: SOC 391 / SOC 681

• Syllabus

• Lecture Slides

• Readings

Course Description

Causality is of fundamental interest to most social, behavioral, and health scientists. Theories and theoretically motivated research questions are almost always causal in nature. While many statistical advances have aided our ability to test for causality in observational data, experiments remain the “gold standard'” for causal inference. Primarily because of experiments' unrivaled ability to test for causality, use of experimental studies has grown rapidly in many social science fields such as economics, political science, and sociology. 

Some experimental traditions, such as laboratory experiments, have a long and influential history within many fields. Newer methods such as field, audit, and survey experiments offer exciting possibilities to test causal ideas in newer and more diverse settings and with more diverse samples. The class will begin by covering fundamental experimental methodology and laboratory experiments. Next, we will learn about experiments conducted outside of the laboratory: from conducting audit studies on hiring managers to fielding survey experiments in nationally representative samples (and everything in between).  

The course focuses on experimental methodology and design; i.e. what types of experiments are possible and how to design and conduct methodologically sound studies. The course is meant to be practical, teaching concrete best practices rather than only abstract concepts. In addition, we will read exemplar research articles throughout the semester alongside methodological pieces, illustrating the diverse and contemporary topics that are currently being studied with experimental methods.

An additional goal of the course is to introduce you to the experimental research that is currently being conducted at Purdue. Every other week our Thursday class period will include a guest speaker. We will read one of their published or in-progress articles using an experimental study and then discuss the study and their research with them during the second half of that Thursday's class.

Prior Course Materials

See all course materials from the last time the course was taught:

• Fall 2019 Course Materials