Classroom Experiments

What is a classroom economics experiment? Relatively recently, economists have begun to employ experimental methods – both in research and teaching. Research experiments help economists test the validity of theories and the efficacy of new market mechanisms. Classroom experiments help instructors illustrate concepts and engage students in the learning process, making economic theory easier for students to understand. Classroom experiments are one of a variety of active learning techniques intended to promote higher-order thinking. A classroom experiment asks students to make economic decisions in a controlled environment. These decisions create data for analysis and discussion. When well designed and implemented, experiments help students discover important concepts for themselves. That discovery leads students to take greater ownership of their new-found knowledge, generating higher levels of engagement with the subject and potentially longer-term retention of the material. Experiments covering a wide range of concepts are readily available for classroom use. economic education journals. Experiments are most frequently employed in principles courses, with many level-appropriate experiments available. More complex experiments and variations of simple ones are available for use in upper level courses. Most experiments can be run by