Field experiments: Overcoming the limitations of survey experiments for actionable behavioural insights

Abstract

Historically, one-off cross-sectional survey studies have dominated empirical research in tourism and hospitality. The inability to draw causal conclusions from such data has led to an increased uptake of survey experiments, which are easy and affordable to conduct and can identify causal relationships between constructs under controlled conditions. Survey experiments, however, have a severe limitation: they do not provide insights into real behaviour, restricting researchers' ability to generate actionable insights and reliable practical recommendations. This article offers a systematic comparison of three approaches (one-off cross-sectional survey studies, survey experiments, and field experiments) and provides step-by-step guidance on the design and implementation of field experiments and quasi-experimental field studies.