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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, MA02109
Robert Kurzban*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104

Abstract

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.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

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