Power(ful) Guidelines for Experimental Economists

By Kathryn N. Vasilaky and J. Michelle Brock

Statistical power is an important detail to consider in the design phase of any experiment. This note serves as a reference for experimental economists on power calculations. We synthesize many of the questions and issues frequently brought up regarding power calculations and the literature that surrounds that. We provide practical coded examples and tools available for calculating power, and suggest when and how to report power calculations in published studies.