The Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Experimental Paradigm of Political Behavior

• In Event: Lightning Round: Research Design

Abstract

Researchers of political behavior who use vignette paradigms face challenges of low ecological validity and ensuing concerns about the accuracy of detected effect sizes. To help alleviate those problems, this paper proposes the application of a choose-your-own-adventure experimental paradigm as an alternative to vignettes for the study of political behavior. Scripting an experiment so that participants are asked to make decisions as the protagonist of a story offers several advantages. First, presented in that way, stimuli become more potent, with participants showing increased attentiveness and emotional engagement. Second, engaged participants make a string of related choices, which allows for the study of complex sequential processes. Third behaviors are more spontaneous, and researchers are not confined to self-evaluation of potential or past actions or intentions. At the same time, similarly to vignettes, a choose-your-own-adventure paradigm is an expedient and cost-effective experimental method that can be used with existing online survey tools. This paper outlines several applications of the paradigm and concludes with practical suggestions and future directions.

Author

• Ina Kamenova, University of Massachusetts Lowell