Seminars

Bildung ist ein wichtiger Produktivitätstreiber und somit auch Treiber von Einkommen und ökonomischem Wachstum. Darüber hinaus korreliert Bildung mit besserer Gesundheit, einem größeren zivilgesellschaftlichen Engagement sowie einer geringen Wahrscheinlichkeit, kriminell zu werden.

In diesem Seminar wollen wir ausgewählte Fragen der Bildungsökonomik untersuchen, die von grundlegenden Themenbereichen wie den individuellen und gesellschaftlichen Bildungsrenditen über die Effizienz und Fairness verschiedener Bildungspolitiken und -interventionen bis hin zu aktuellen Fragen hinsichtlich der Auswirkungen der Corona-Pandemie und dem Einsatz von adaptiver Lernsoftware reichen.

Exploring Randomized Experiments in Education

The application of randomized experiments has become increasingly prevalent in educational research. Randomized experiments are widely recognized as generating “gold standard” evidence. In 2019, the Nobel Prize was awarded to economists who use randomized experiments.

This seminar will focus on randomized experiments evaluating the effectiveness of educational interventions. The central objective of this seminar is to analyze and critique experimental designs as well as to discuss the strengths and limitations of randomized experiments.

Each participant will present and review one paper, with an in-depth discussion and a critical assessment. For each paper, it should be stated what the key research question is and how it can be answered using a randomized experiment. The focus of the seminar presentation is also to address the key elements of the study design, such as the mode of randomization. Furthermore, the key findings should be presented with a focus on the interpretation of the treatment effects. Finally, the experiment should be discussed regarding its limitations like generalizability, contamination, Hawthorne, or John Henry effects.

In addition, we strongly encourage the participants to propose a redesign of the presented experiment where some of the limitations might be overcome or a different research question is addressed in the same setting.

No specific MIEPP course is required. However, sound knowledge of experimental methods is useful.

Schedule:

Schedule:

November 8, 2023 12:00 - 02:00 pm: Session I

November 22, 2023 12:00 - 02:00 pm: Session II

December 6, 2023 12:00 - 02:00 pm: Session III

December 20, 2023 12:00 - 02:00 pm: Session IV

January 17, 2024 12:00 - 02:00 pm: Session V

January 31, 2024 12:00 - 02:00 pm: Session VI

February 15, 2024 12:00 - 02:00 pm: Session VII