During 2016-2017, together with two partner organizations in Mexico, Participando por México (PxM) and Observatorio de Desarrollo Regional y Promoción Social (ODP), I conducted a field experiment in the state of Yucatan. The experiment consisted of hiring a non-clientelistic facilitator trained to assist in directly accessing welfare programs by providing information about eligibility and assisting in the process of applying to welfare — at no cost — to any interested citizen in 75 randomly selected villages.
Field experiments are a messy endeavor and require an immense amount of planning, protocols (for when things go well, but especially for when they go wrong), supporting materials and a strict supervision structure. Here, I will provide a description of the organization behind the field experiment I ran in 2016. This post will be updated gradually and completed upon publication, however, I encourage anyone to email me directly with any request for questionnaires, material or any form used during the implementation.
One of the main materials used in this intervention consisted of a user-friendly handbook of welfare programs and eligibility criteria, which won 2017 Transparency Initiative prize given by Mexico’s National Institute for Access to Public Information (INAI). Together with other civil society organizations in Mexico, we are working on promoting governments to adopt a similar style of presenting information about social programs. You can also follow the advancements on that front below.
Click here for more information on the field experiment!
The pre-analysis plan contains a chapter on ethical concerns that were debated before the implementation of the experiment. You can read about those here. However, during the implementation several new concerns arose. These were discussed with several academics from the Autonomous University of Yucatan, and during a session of the MIT Gov/Lab team. The memo that informed the discussion on the matter can be found here.
In 2021, Pablo Balán and I conducted a survey of political activists in Monterrey. For two years, my website hosted a dedicated page providing information about the survey, including details on informed consent and the researchers involved. You can now consult it here.
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En 2021, Pablo Balán y yo realizamos una encuesta a activistas políticos en Monterrey. Durante dos años, mi sitio web mantuvo una página dedicada con información sobre la encuesta, incluyendo detalles sobre el consentimiento informado y los investigadores involucrados. Puedes consultar esa antigua página aquí.
In 2024, in collaboration with the Center for Analytical Political Engagement (CAPE) at UC Merced, I designed and conducted an in-person and online survey of Latines living in California’s Central Valley. The survey aimed to include individuals of Latin American heritage, regardless of their immigration status. This pilot study has an informational website available in both English and Spanish, providing details about the survey and offering a web form for comments and questions. We plan to expand this survey in the coming years. Preliminary results can be accessed here. The survey website hosted on CAPE, can be consulted here.
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En 2024, en colaboración con el Center for Analytical Political Engagement (CAPE) de UC Merced, diseñé y llevé a cabo una encuesta presencial y en línea dirigida a latines que residen en el Valle Central de California. El objetivo de la encuesta fue incluir a personas de ascendencia latinoamericana, independientemente de su estatus migratorio. Este estudio piloto cuenta con un sitio web informativo disponible en inglés y español, donde se explica la encuesta y se ofrece un formulario para comentarios y preguntas. Planeamos expandir esta encuesta en los próximos años. Los resultados preliminares pueden consultarse aquí. Mayor información sobre la encuesta puede consultarse aquí.