How to Read Economics Research Papers: Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

This video shows how to read economics research papers that use randomized trials (sometimes called randomized controlled trials or randomized clinical trials or RCTs). The video expands on our introduction to randomized trials, which features a study of the effects of classroom electronic use on student learning in econ 101 classrooms (research paper).

We begin here with the interpretation of tables of descriptive statistics and statistical tests for balance between treatment and control groups. We then see how to read the key findings in a published paper of this sort, and learn why regression is used with randomized controlled trials.

Learn to decode the work of the masters!