z-Tree in VLab: A Method for Running Online Economic Experiments

17 Pages Posted: 29 Dec 2020

See all articles by Seda Ertac

Seda Ertac

Koc University - Department of Economics

Ergun Kotan

Koc University - Department of Economics

Date Written: December 15, 2020

Abstract

We propose a convenient method to run online economic experiments via z-Tree, should a virtual lab with a file server exist. Assuming these technologies are already available in many universities, this method does not require any additional tool or resource. Once the setup is completed, a researcher can run any type of experiment (including interactive tasks) with subjects participating in real time. With the virtual lab architecture, a researcher finds the very same desktop she has in a physical lab; therefore, she does not need to adapt to any different platform. The researcher only needs additional software to communicate with the subjects (e.g., Zoom), but this is probably not a burden since most have already adapted to these applications during the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe that the use of z-Tree through a virtual lab, necessitated by the current lack of access to physical subjects, will continue to provide a convenient method for running online experiments with z-Tree during the pandemic as well as beyond.

Keywords: Online experiments, laboratory experiments, z-Tree, virtualization, virtual lab

JEL Classification: C81, C90

Suggested Citation

Ertac, Seda and Kotan, Ergun, z-Tree in VLab: A Method for Running Online Economic Experiments (December 15, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3756019 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3756019

Seda Ertac

Koc University - Department of Economics ( email )

Rumeli Feneri Yolu
Sariyer 80910, Istanbul
Turkey

Ergun Kotan (Contact Author)

Koc University - Department of Economics ( email )

Rumeli Feneri Yolu
Sariyer 80910, Istanbul
Turkey

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
211
Abstract Views
1,452
Rank
261,591
PlumX Metrics