{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.016937191249117856, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0035285815102328866, 'mean_word_length': 6.347150259067358, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Introduction to Field Experiments: Thinking Through Identity and Positionality

Inthis symposium, 36 diverse scholars discuss implications of identity and positionality in field experiments, particularly those that evaluate policy interventions (also called “impact evaluations” and “randomized controlled trials”).1 Field experiments share many common identity and positionality issues with observational field research yet are distinct in two unique ways: (1) they involve interventions with the dual purpose of testing social science hypotheses as well as improving human welfare according to normative goals; and (2) they involvemany actors beyond principal investigators and research participants. Although this discussion is already deeply considered by scholars, this symposium provides a foundational starting point for written scholarly discourse regarding how these unique features of field experiments yield multifaceted considerations of identity and positionality. Together, we underscore how identity and positionality can affect the distinct goals of scientific rigor and ethics in field experiments. Moving forward, we argue that field experimenters should engage in a continually reflexive process regarding identity and positionality throughout the research process.We provide resources in an online appendix that facilitate a reflexive process during projects as well as studentmethods instruction.