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Can We Reduce Deception in Elite Field Experiments? Evidence from a Field Experiment with State Legislative Offices

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2021

Michelangelo Landgrave Open the ORCID record for Michelangelo Landgrave [Opens in a new window]
Michelangelo Landgrave*
Affiliation:
University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
*
Corresponding Author: Michelangelo Landgrave, University of California, Riverside, 900 University Ave., Riverside, CA 92521, USA. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The use of deception is common in elite correspondence audit studies. Elite audit studies are a type of field experiment used by researchers to test for discrimination against vulnerable populations seeking to access government resources. These studies have provided invaluable insights, but they have done so at the cost of using deception. They have relied on identity, activity, and motivation deception. In addition, they request unnecessary work. Is there a less deceptive alternative? In this article, I present results from a field experiment with state legislative offices that minimize the use of deception. Consistent with elite correspondence audit studies, I find evidence of discrimination against Hispanics among state legislative offices. In addition, I find that discrimination is mitigated when subjects believe their behavior will be public knowledge. This suggests that discrimination can be mitigated through increased monitoring. This article advances the discussion on how to minimize the use of deception in elite field experimentation and how to mitigate discrimination against vulnerable populations.

Keywords

field experimentexperimental methodsmethodologydiscriminationrepresentationHispanic/Latino politicsidentity/group politicsresearch ethics
Type
Research Article
Information
State Politics & Policy Quarterly , Volume 20 , Issue 4 , December 2020 , pp. 489 - 507
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2020

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