Pragmatic Field Experiment — Effectiveness Testing in Real-World Settings

A pragmatic field experiment tests whether an intervention works under real-world, routine conditions rather than under the tightly controlled settings of a laboratory or explanatory trial. It combines the pragmatic trial philosophy — prioritising external validity and decision-relevance — with field experimentation, so findings directly inform policy and practice. The design is positioned toward the pragmatic end of the PRECIS continuum and is widely used in public health, education, agriculture, and behavioral economics.