Title :

The Success of Randomized Controlled Trials: A Sociographical Study of the Rise of J-PAL to Scientific Excellence and Influence

Author(s) :

Jatteau, Arthur [Auteur]
Centre Lillois d’Études et de Recherches Sociologiques et Économiques - UMR 8019 [CLERSÉ]

Journal title :

Historical Social Research

Pages :

94-119

Publisher :

GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences

Publication date :

2018

English keyword(s) :

economics
job history
cultural capital
data collection method
scientific scene
sociography
social capital
elite formation
methodology
random sample
executive
social network
elite
occupational prestige
economist
course of academic studies
network analysis
occupational status

HAL domain(s) :

Sciences de l'Homme et Société/Economies et finances

English abstract : [en]

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are a method to assess impact that has become increasingly popular over the last fifteen years, particularly as a result of the work done by Esther Duflo and her Poverty Action Lab ...
Show more >Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are a method to assess impact that has become increasingly popular over the last fifteen years, particularly as a result of the work done by Esther Duflo and her Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), an or-ganization devoted to the promotion of randomization. This article aims to explore and understand this success by using an in-depth sociographical study of the J-PAL and a network analysis of economists who use RCT. J-PAL appears to be a concentration of educational and academic capital that give great legitimacy to the RCT method. The network is controlled by certain leaders who are able to diffuse the J-PAL approach to RCTs. Furthermore, this article argues that it is necessary to go beyond the intrinsic quality of this method to explain how it became so popularShow less >

Language :

Anglais

Peer reviewed article :

Oui

Audience :

Internationale

Popular science :

Non

Administrative institution(s) :

Université de Lille
CNRS
Univ. Littoral Côte d’Opale

Collections :

• Centre Lillois d'Études et de Recherches Sociologiques et Économiques (CLERSE) - UMR 8019

Research team(s) :

Économies et sociétés : développement, richesse, innovation et régulation

Submission date :

2020-05-05T09:35:53Z
2020-05-11T12:53:30Z