Introduction to the Virtual Issue by Libby Jenke

This special issue has two aims. First, I highlight recently developed methodological tools that confront challenges involved in identifying causal mechanisms. Scholars often use composite treatments that allow for an efficient design but leave them unable to specify which mechanism is responsible for effects. Another weakness in testing causal mechanisms is that average causal mediation effects rely on strong assumptions that are often known to be false. Second, I include papers that underscore rarely-noted issues with experiments, some of which have solutions and others that remain unsolved. My goal in highlighting these concerns is not to question past work but instead to increase the future scholarly returns of survey experiments.

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