Blog
Building the next generation of support for experimentation
13 May 2026
Do you know someone interested in experimentation?
We certainly do – over the last 3 months, the IGL Masterclass series connected us with 488 early career researchers from 35 different countries and over 200 academic institutions. Participants were taught how to test ideas in science, innovation and productivity through designing and implementing experiments. This wealth of global talent reflects the appeal of experimentation as a tool for academic research and policy evaluation, unlocking causal relationships and helping us to understand whether interventions actually work.
From the classroom, to the world – now that our Masterclass participants have engaged with expert instructors, they are eager to run experiments themselves. But implementing an experiment is complex, with hurdles ranging from administrative procedures to participant recruitment to data storage. To support this next generation of experimentalists, we have developed an Experimental Kit with resources and guides covering the entire process of designing, running and reporting an experiment.
Experimentation for all
Like the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which generously funds our research network activities, we believe that great ideas shouldn’t be stopped by circumstance, and are committed to opportunity for all in science.
Experimentation is for everyone. But too often, the desire to run an experiment is unmet by the ability to do so. Successful experiments depend on many factors outside of researchers’ control, such as access to expertise, networks and resources. Without support from a supervisor or academic department, relationships with partner organisations, funding for data collection, and knowledge of administrative processes, an experiment is unlikely to move forward. Many researchers outside of prestigious universities have great ideas that will never move forward – this untapped potential, like kindling, is just waiting for a spark.
How can we help? The IGL Masterclass was part of the solution, exposing aspiring experimentalists to instructors from top universities. The Masterclass was explicitly designed for inclusivity, building bridges between established academics and newcomers and de-mystifying the process of experimentation, with sessions focused on common challenges for experiments and how to overcome barriers.
Likewise, our Experimental Kit was designed to level the playing field for researchers new to experimentation, and those who may lack support or know-how within their institutions. Our focus is simple: bringing together the ingredients for experimentation in an accessible, open format. No more barriers, no more exclusion.
Experimentation for progress
Inclusion, and the diversity of ideas it generates, has a broader importance. Whether economic, technological, political or environmental, our world faces many challenges. Static evaluations and rigid policy cycles are inadequate: we urgently need more experiments to test creative solutions with an agile and rigorous approach. Key to these solutions is a diversity of ideas – the same potential we witnessed during the Masterclass sessions. With more experiments, and more experimentalists, we can begin to tackle the toughest problems.
What does it take to run an experiment in 2026?
The research landscape is always changing, and our support must match the requirements of the new generation of experimentalists. We pledge that our Experimental Kit will be:
- Inclusive – Our resources seek to remove knowledge from silos in universities, and are designed so that anyone can understand and use them. They are freely available to everyone, and will use clear language and simple formats that can be used and replicated on a personal computer.
- Responsive – Our resources are designed to be updated – they are living documents, modified by users themselves, not just expert academics. Researchers know best what challenges they face – we will gather their feedback through surveys and focus groups, and build resources to best support their needs.
- Cumulative – We are building on, not replacing, the many excellent existing resources about experiments such as the J-PAL research resources for development economists and the World Bank development impact blog for technical discussions.
- Open – We are committed to the open science principles of transparency and accessibility, allowing experimental insights to be shared and scrutinised. Our resources reflect this commitment by encouraging pre-registration, data and code sharing.
- Collaborative – The resources are designed to start conversations, establishing a common page for discussions about experiments. They will form the foundation of our new mentorship programme, building connections between researchers at different career stages.
We’re just getting started: join us!
There is still much more to do. Breaking down barriers to participation in experimentation is a tough challenge, and we need your help. Join us to build the next generation of experimentation support – making research open to all, unlocking global potential, and letting brilliant ideas shine.
We welcome feedback on our experimental kit. Where are the missing pieces? How can existing resources be improved?
Are you an academic researcher with experience in experimentation, who would like to contribute more directly to the design of the research resources? Volunteer as a participant in the focus groups by emailing the IGL research network at [email protected].