Hostname: page-component-6898cfcb55-kwdml Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-11T09:57:37.874Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

On the limitations of quasi-experiments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2005

Terence C. Burnham*
Affiliation:
Acadian Asset Management, One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109
Robert Kurzban*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the 'Save PDF' action button.

Although provocative, the data reported in Henrich et al.'s target article suffer from limitations, including the fact that the “selfishness axiom” is not an interesting null hypothesis, and the intrinsic limitations of quasi-experimental designs, in which random assignment is impossible. True experiments, in the laboratory or in the field, will continue to be crucial for settling core issues associated with human economic behavior.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005