What are the most innovative and impactful experimental research studies in your field?

3 Economics: Randomized controlled trials

A revolutionary experimental method in economics is the randomized controlled trial (RCT), which involves randomly assigning participants to a treatment or a control group, and measuring the impact of an intervention on a specific outcome. RCTs are widely used in medicine, but they have also been applied to study the effects of various policies and programs on poverty, education, health, and governance. One of the pioneers of RCTs in economics is the Nobel laureate Esther Duflo, who co-founded the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), which has conducted over 1,000 RCTs in 83 countries. RCTs can provide reliable and rigorous evidence for policy making and social change.

4 Computer science: Generative adversarial networks

A cutting-edge experimental technique in computer science is the generative adversarial network (GAN), which involves two neural networks competing against each other: a generator that tries to create realistic images, and a discriminator that tries to distinguish them from real images. The generator learns from the feedback of the discriminator, and the discriminator learns from the data. The result is a powerful and creative way to generate new images, such as faces, landscapes, artworks, and even videos. GANs were invented by Ian Goodfellow and his colleagues in 2014, and have since been used for various applications, such as image enhancement, style transfer, face swapping, and deepfakes. GANs can enable new forms of expression, communication, and entertainment.

5 Sociology: Social identity theory

A classic experimental study in sociology is the minimal group paradigm, which was developed by Tajfel and his colleagues in the 1970s, to test the social identity theory. The theory posits that people tend to categorize themselves and others into groups, and favor their own group over others, even when the groups are based on trivial or arbitrary criteria. The minimal group paradigm involves assigning participants to groups based on a random or meaningless task, such as preference for a painting, and then asking them to allocate rewards or penalties to members of their own or other groups. The experiment shows that people tend to be more generous and cooperative with their own group, and more hostile and competitive with other groups, even when there is no conflict or interaction between them. The minimal group paradigm reveals how social identity can influence intergroup relations and behavior.

6 Biology: CRISPR-Cas9

A breakthrough experimental tool in biology is the CRISPR-Cas9 system, which allows scientists to edit the genome of any organism with unprecedented precision and efficiency. CRISPR-Cas9 is based on a natural mechanism that bacteria use to defend themselves against viruses, by cutting and inserting DNA sequences. Scientists can use CRISPR-Cas9 to target specific genes and modify them, by adding, deleting, or replacing them. CRISPR-Cas9 was discovered by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier in 2012, and has since been used for various purposes, such as creating gene therapies, engineering crops, and studying gene function. CRISPR-Cas9 can revolutionize biotechnology, medicine, and agriculture.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?