The Use of Field Experiments to Study Mechanisms of Discrimination

Keuschnigg M, Wolbring T (2016)


Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2016

Journal

Book Volume: 38

Pages Range: 179 - 201

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1515/auk-2016-0109

Abstract

This paper discusses social mechanisms of discrimination and reviews existing field experimental designs for their identification. We first explicate two social mechanisms proposed in the literature, animus-driven and statistical discrimination, to explain differential treatment based on ascriptive characteristics. We then present common approaches to study discrimination based on observational data and laboratory experiments, discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and elaborate why unobtrusive field experiments are a promising complement. However, apart from specific methodological challenges, well-established experimental designs fail to identify the mechanisms of discrimination. Consequently, we introduce a rapidly growing strand of research which actively intervenes in market activities varying costs and information for potential perpetrators to identify causal pathways of discrimination. We end with a summary of lessons learned and a discussion of challenges that lie ahead.

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How to cite

APA:

Keuschnigg, M., & Wolbring, T. (2016). The Use of Field Experiments to Study Mechanisms of Discrimination. Analyse und Kritik, 38(1), 179 - 201. https://dx.doi.org/10.1515/auk-2016-0109

MLA:

Keuschnigg, Marc, and Tobias Wolbring. "The Use of Field Experiments to Study Mechanisms of Discrimination." Analyse und Kritik 38.1 (2016): 179 - 201.

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