{"id":3930,"date":"2019-07-11T13:58:28","date_gmt":"2019-07-11T20:58:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/business\/2019\/07\/11\/high-school-workshop-gives-students-the-experimental-economics-experience\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T06:40:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T06:40:30","slug":"high-school-workshop-gives-students-the-experimental-economics-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/business\/2019\/07\/11\/high-school-workshop-gives-students-the-experimental-economics-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"High School Workshop gives students the Experimental Economics Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Students
Students participate in experiments for cash.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

June 24-28, 2019<\/strong> Every summer, high school students from across Southern California and beyond meet at Chapman University for a week long workshop on experimental economics.<\/p>\n

Hosted by the Economic Science Institute<\/a> at Chapman University and generously funded by the International Foundation for Research in Experimental Economics (IFREE)<\/a> and Thomas W. Smith Foundation, the workshop aims to expose high school students to economics and the experimental approach to economics. No prior experience in economics is necessary as many participants have little to no exposure beforehand. However, many leave with a new interest in economics.<\/p>\n

One student described the 2019 workshop as \u201c\u2026an experience that I\u2019ll remember for a lifetime! I\u2019ve learned so much this week about things I never knew before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Students
Students work together on economic questions and problems.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What makes the workshop so memorable and enjoyable for students? It is the workshop\u2019s unique structure that combines experiments, lectures, group activities, and discussions. The workshop is not long lectures all day, but what one student described as \u201can opportunity to actually experience economics.\u201d Students participate in real experiments as na\u00efve subjects would while earning cash. After an experiment is complete, the results are shared and a related lecture is discussed. This gives students the opportunity to observe and discuss their own behavior before and after learning about the theory. One student shared their opinion, saying, \u201cI loved the experimental approach as it helps in learning the concepts as well as it keeps me engaged. It was also motivating with the idea of real money involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"StudentsThe workshop was led again by Dr. Andrew Smyth, Assistant Professor of Economics at Marquette University. \u201cThis year\u2019s workshop brought a great group of talented high school studends to Chapman for a fun-filled week. Learning economics through experiments really helps concepts sink in and ensures that the discipline comes across as anything but dismal!\u201d Smyth says.<\/p>\n

One student summed up the workshop best: \u201cIt’s fun, I earned cash, and I learned a lot!\u201d<\/p>\n

Here is what students had to say about the workshop:<\/p>\n

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