Pioneering Research and Pedagogy through Innovative Experiments
By Marie Kerekes, Experimental Lab Manager, Postdoctoral Researcher, and Teacher.
ESSEC places great emphasis on research, innovation, and pedagogy. The Experimental and Behavioral Lab is at the heart of this vision, inviting ESSEC students to participate in studies and experiments crafted by ESSEC professors, researchers, and Ph.D. students.
What is an Experimental Lab? And what are the missions of ESSEC Experimental Lab?
An Experimental Lab is a controlled setting designed for scientific experimentation and research. Experimental Labs are equipped with various tools and software required for conducting experiments and can recruit participants based on what is needed for the experiment.
At ESSEC Business School, the Experimental Lab is made of two Labs: an online Experimental Lab, open to online studies created by professors and Ph.D. students in Marketing and Management; and a physical Experimental Lab, available for all Faculty, and hosted in the Data lab (inside ESSEC K-lab). The online Experimental Lab invites 600 to 700 students from ESSEC Master in Management each trimester to participate in online studies and earn credits for their classes in Marketing. The physical Experimental Lab allows all ESSEC students from the campus of Cergy to participate in paid experiments that take place inside the Data lab, which is a state-of-the-art large experimental room that offers 39 computers with separators, an isolated cubicle with eye-tracking technology, and additional isolated cubicles.
Since its creation in 2009, 428 experiments and studies were conducted at ESSEC Experimental Lab. The Experimental Lab’s main objective is the implementation of data collection for research projects created by ESSEC Faculty. The Experimental Lab is currently directed by Roméo Tédongap and managed by Marie Kerekes. One of the latest studies that took place at the Experimental Lab was a 15-minute experiment conducted by the Talents of Ecological Transition Chair led by Bernard Leca with its partner the association CITEPA (Centre technique national de référence sur le changement climatique et la pollution atmosphérique) directed by Jérôme Boutang. The experiment sought to understand if young people’s meat consumption could be impacted by information on health and ecology.
What role does the Experimental Lab play in ESSEC pedagogy?
Some of the Experimental Lab’s missions are closely linked with pedagogy, as it provides students with an opportunity to learn outside of the classroom and be initiated into research. By participating in experiments and studies designed by ESSEC Faculty, students can connect with ESSEC research and gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter. They are also free to ask questions about the Experimental Lab, how it works, and what the goals of the studies and experiments are.
The Experimental Workshop is another initiative organized by the Experimental Lab where professors, researchers, and Ph.D. students collaborate on experimental work and present their experimental work to each other. This setup allows Ph.D. students to learn how to become efficient scholar by participating in high-level exchanges on their experimental work with ESSEC Faculty members.
Since 2022, the Experimental Lab, in partnership with the K-lab, also organizes an event for the Fête de la Science during which high school students are welcomed and learn about experiments and research at ESSEC. In conclusion, ESSEC Experimental Lab plays a vital role in connecting academic theory with practical application. It offers students unique insights into the research process by integrating hands-on learning with their regular studies. This approach not only enhances their understanding but also gives them a firsthand experience in experimental and behavioral work, seamlessly blending research and pedagogy.