Evidence in Governance and Politics (EGAP), a global research network established in 2009, is dedicated to producing rigorous experimental and causal evidence surrounding governance, institutional reform, and development issues. Situated at the Center on Effective Global Action (CEGA) at the University of California, Berkeley, EGAP plays a crucial role in coordinating various initiatives, including the Metaketa multi-site replication endeavor and accessible methodological guides, alongside maintaining an archive of experimental pre-analysis plans.
About EGAP
EGAP focuses on enhancing transparency and causal rigor in social science research. The initiative brings together academics, policy evaluators, and development practitioners to tackle major methodological concerns in political science, such as publication bias and selective reporting of positive findings. This collaboration aims to connect theoretical inquiry with empirical practice.
The network emphasizes prospective pre-registration of experimental research designs, requiring researchers to document hypotheses, sample designs, and statistical specifications before analyzing outcome data. This practice aims to reduce instances of data-dredging and post-hoc rationalization.
Governance and Research Focus
EGAP operates under the guidance of an elected executive committee comprised of political science, economics, and public administration scholars. It further supports regional hubs in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, fostering equitable research partnerships with scholars from the Global South.
The initiative’s focus includes rigorous field experiments and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) across key areas of public policy and institutional governance, such as:
- Accountability and Electoral Integrity: Evaluating voter education and anti-corruption interventions.
- Conflict and Peacebuilding: Assessing community reconciliation programs.
- Public Service Delivery: Studying bureaucratic performance and healthcare oversight.
- Natural Resource Governance: Measuring compliance in community forestry.
- Ethical Field Protocols: Emphasizing informed consent and minimal disruption during interventions.
The Metaketa Initiative
The Metaketa Initiative is a significant component of EGAP’s approach, designed to overcome limitations of external validity in field research. This model facilitates coordinated clusters of similar field trials across various countries, focusing on specific policy issues and employing harmonized methods.
Past and present rounds of Metaketa include:
- Metaketa I: Examined the impact of factual information on voter behavior across several countries.
- Metaketa II: Investigated citizen compliance and tax revenue mobilization.
- Metaketa III: Focused on community monitoring to prevent illegal deforestation.
- Metaketa IV: Evaluated community policing initiatives for crime reduction.
- Metaketa V: Studied grassroots efforts to enhance women’s political representation.
Registration and Research Access
On October 15, 2023, EGAP transitioned its registration operations to the Open Science Framework (OSF) Registry, managed by the Center for Open Science. Historical registrations remain accessible through the OSF platform, while new experimental studies can be registered either through OSF or the American Economic Association’s AEA RCT Registry.
Researchers can locate past EGAP registrations by visiting the OSF Registries and using specific filters to refine their searches. The transition aims to enhance accessibility and streamline the registration process for future studies.
EGAP continues to support important academic work in governance and social science, promoting methodological innovations and equitable partnerships for researchers worldwide.
