Randomistas : how radical researchers are changing our world / Andrew Leigh.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Leigh, Andrew, 1972- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social sciences--Research.

Social sciences.

Sampling (Statistics).

Social sciences--Methodology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (287 pages)

Place of Publication:

New Haven ; London : Yale University Press, [2018]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

A fascinating account of how radical researchers have used experiments to overturn conventional wisdom and shaped life as we know it Experiments have consistently been used in the hard sciences, but in recent decades social scientists have adopted the practice. Randomized trials have been used to design policies to increase educational attainment, lower crime rates, elevate employment rates, and improve living standards among the poor. This book tells the stories of radical researchers who have used experiments to overturn conventional wisdom. From finding the cure for scurvy to discovering what policies really improve literacy rates, Leigh shows how randomistas have shaped life as we know it. Written in a "Gladwell-esque" style, this book provides a fascinating account of key randomized control trial studies from across the globe and the challenges that randomistas have faced in getting their studies accepted and their findings implemented. In telling these stories, Leigh draws out key lessons learned and shows the most effective way to conduct these trials.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

1. Scurvy, Scared Straight and Sliding Doors

2. From Bloodletting to Placebo Surgery

3. Decreasing Disadvantage, One Coin Toss at a Time

4. The Pioneers of Randomisation

5. Learning How to Teach

6. Controlling Crime

7. Valuable Experiments in Poor Countries

8. Farms, Firms and Facebook

9. Testing Theories in Politics and Philanthropy

10. Treat Yourself

11. Building a Better Feedback Loop

12. What's the Next Chance?

Ten Commandments for Running Your Own

Acknowledgements

Notes

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-300-24011-2

OCLC:

1041139805