8th Workshop on Experiments in Social Science Research Bern, Switzerland

The workshop, jointly organized by the Institute of Sociology at the University of Bern and the Department of Social Work at Bern University of Applied Sciences, invites researchers using experimental methods to present their projects. The workshop aims to support researchers in both project development as well as analysis, inviting contributions focusing on both design and results.

Experimental research increasingly relies on close collaboration between academic researchers and practitioners (e.g., public administrations, NGOs, schools, and firms). While such collaborations offer substantial potential for policy-relevant and scalable evidence, they also raise methodological, organizational, and ethical challenges. This year’s program will include a practitioner–researcher panel focused on the co-production of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

The workshop provides a forum for in-depth scientific discussion among scholars from sociology, economics, political science, psychology, and related disciplines using experimental methods.

We welcome contributions employing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and related approaches, including but not limited to:

• Field experiments
• Laboratory and lab-in-the-field experiments
• Survey and vignette experiments
• A/B testing and other randomized designs

Special emphasis is placed on education and policy research, while contributions from other fields are also encouraged. We particularly welcome submissions that address implementation challenges or collaboration with practitioners.