An Introduction to Audit Studies in the Social Sciences

Gaddis, S. Michael

An Introduction to Audit Studies in the Social Sciences

Gaddis, S. Michael. 2017. “An Introduction to Audit Studies in the Social Sciences.” In Audit Studies: Behind the Scenes with Theory, Method, and Nuance, edited by S. M. Gaddis, Springer.

71 Pages Posted: 24 Aug 2017

See all articles by S. Michael Gaddis

S. Michael Gaddis

NWEA

Date Written: August 1, 2017

Abstract

An audit study is a specific type of field experiment primarily used to test for discriminatory behavior when survey and interview questions induce social desirability bias. In this chapter, I first review the language and definitions related to audit studies and encourage adoption of a common language. I then discuss why researchers use the audit method as well as when researchers can and should use this method. Next, I give an overview of the history of audit studies, focusing on major developments and changes in the overall body of work. Finally, I discuss the limitations of correspondence audits and provide some thoughts on future directions.

Keywords: Audit Studies, Correspondence Audits, Discrimination, Field Experiments

JEL Classification: C90, C91, C93, C18, J70, J71

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Gaddis, S. Michael, An Introduction to Audit Studies in the Social Sciences (August 1, 2017). Gaddis, S. Michael. 2017. “An Introduction to Audit Studies in the Social Sciences.” In Audit Studies: Behind the Scenes with Theory, Method, and Nuance, edited by S. M. Gaddis, Springer. , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3024262