Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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This video walks you through how to read economics research papers that use randomized trials (sometimes called randomized controlled trials or randomized clinical trials or RCTs).

First, we’ll learn how to read descriptive statistics and check for balance between control and treatment groups. Then we’ll move onto reading study results, including an explanation of why regression is used with randomized controlled trials.

This video builds off of Josh Angrist’s introduction to randomized trials (link below) that featured an economics research study from the Economics of Education Review. This research paper covered a randomized trial conducted at West Point that measured the impact of classroom electronics on learning.

***INSTRUCTOR RESOURCES***
High school teacher resources: mru.io/pat
Professor resources: mru.io/h1b
Econometrics test bank: mru.io/mz8
EconInbox: mru.io/vbd

***MORE LEARNING***
Try out our practice questions: mru.io/xjr
Introduction to Randomized Trials video: mru.io/nx9
See the full course: mru.io/rka
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More from Marginal Revolution University: mru.io/agp