ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the reader to a series of experimental work conducted with the Liberian National Police. Referring to experimental work with the Liberian National Police, it provides theoretical and practical considerations for using experimental methods to research populations in conflict/post-conflict countries. The use of experimental methods in political science comes from concerns about quantitative, observational studies' inability to address sources of bias. In general, there are three sources of bias from which quantitative observational studies – and to some extent survey work – may suffer: endogeneity, selection bias, and omitted variable bias. The chapter introduced causal inference and provides an explanation of the use of various tools that employ causal inference. It then moves to explaining the advantages and drawbacks of using such tools. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the ethical implications of using experimental methods.
