Selection into Experiments: Evidence from a Population of Students
(2019) In Working Papers- Abstract
- This study investigates the selection into lab experiments among university students based on data from two cohorts of a university’s first-year students. The analysis combines two experiments: a classroom experiment in which we elicited measures for risk, time, social preferences, confidence, and cognitive skills using standard measures from the experimental literature; and a recruitment experiment that varied information provided in a typical e-mail recruitment procedure for lab participants. In the recruitment experiment, students were randomly assigned to four conditions that highlighted altruistic motives or financial incentives. We find significant treatment effects: mentioning financial incentives boosts the participation rate in... (More)
- This study investigates the selection into lab experiments among university students based on data from two cohorts of a university’s first-year students. The analysis combines two experiments: a classroom experiment in which we elicited measures for risk, time, social preferences, confidence, and cognitive skills using standard measures from the experimental literature; and a recruitment experiment that varied information provided in a typical e-mail recruitment procedure for lab participants. In the recruitment experiment, students were randomly assigned to four conditions that highlighted altruistic motives or financial incentives. We find significant treatment effects: mentioning financial incentives boosts the participation rate in lab experiments by 50 percent. In terms of selection, we find that more selfish individuals and individuals with higher cognitive reflection scores are more likely to participate in experiments, but we find little evidence for selection along risk preferences, time preferences, and overconfidence. Although the recruitment conditions affect participation rates, they do not alter the composition of the participant sample in terms of behavioral measures and cognitive skills. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/28c6e0dc-95f3-40a2-9a67-c06f8f64dccf
- author
- Schulz, Jonathan ; Sunde, Uwe ; Thiemann, Petra LU and Thöni, Christian
- organization
- publishing date
- 2019
- type
- Working paper/Preprint
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- classroom experiment, selection, recruitment, preferences, cognitive abilities, C93, D64, H41, L30
- in
- Working Papers
- issue
- 2019:18
- pages
- 46 pages
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 28c6e0dc-95f3-40a2-9a67-c06f8f64dccf
- alternative location
- https://swopec.hhs.se/lunewp/abs/lunewp2019_018.htm
- date added to LUP
- 2019-11-29 13:11:40
- date last changed
- 2019-11-29 13:11:40
@misc{28c6e0dc-95f3-40a2-9a67-c06f8f64dccf,
abstract = {{This study investigates the selection into lab experiments among university students based on data from two cohorts of a university’s first-year students. The analysis combines two experiments: a classroom experiment in which we elicited measures for risk, time, social preferences, confidence, and cognitive skills using standard measures from the experimental literature; and a recruitment experiment that varied information provided in a typical e-mail recruitment procedure for lab participants. In the recruitment experiment, students were randomly assigned to four conditions that highlighted altruistic motives or financial incentives. We find significant treatment effects: mentioning financial incentives boosts the participation rate in lab experiments by 50 percent. In terms of selection, we find that more selfish individuals and individuals with higher cognitive reflection scores are more likely to participate in experiments, but we find little evidence for selection along risk preferences, time preferences, and overconfidence. Although the recruitment conditions affect participation rates, they do not alter the composition of the participant sample in terms of behavioral measures and cognitive skills.}},
author = {{Schulz, Jonathan and Sunde, Uwe and Thiemann, Petra and Thöni, Christian}},
keywords = {{classroom experiment; selection; recruitment; preferences; cognitive abilities; C93; D64; H41; L30}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Working Paper}},
number = {{2019:18}},
series = {{Working Papers}},
title = {{Selection into Experiments: Evidence from a Population of Students}},
url = {{https://swopec.hhs.se/lunewp/abs/lunewp2019_018.htm}},
year = {{2019}},
}