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Mine or ours? Unintended framing effects in dictator games

Bergh, Andreas LU and Wichardt, Philipp C. LU (2022) In Rationality and Society 34(1). p.78-95
Abstract

This paper reports results from a classroom dictator game comparing the effects of three different sets of standard instructions. The results show that seemingly small and typically unreported differences in standard instructions induce different perceptions regarding entitlement and ownership of the money to be distributed, and that these perceptions influence behaviour. Less is given when the task is described as a task of generosity and more when the task is a task of distribution (average 35% vs. 52%). The results can contribute to explaining the large variation in dictator game giving reported in the literature and show that even small and unreported differences in instructions change how the game is perceived. JEL codes: C70; C91;... (More)

This paper reports results from a classroom dictator game comparing the effects of three different sets of standard instructions. The results show that seemingly small and typically unreported differences in standard instructions induce different perceptions regarding entitlement and ownership of the money to be distributed, and that these perceptions influence behaviour. Less is given when the task is described as a task of generosity and more when the task is a task of distribution (average 35% vs. 52%). The results can contribute to explaining the large variation in dictator game giving reported in the literature and show that even small and unreported differences in instructions change how the game is perceived. JEL codes: C70; C91; D63

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
dictator games, framing effects, property rights, social preferences
in
Rationality and Society
volume
34
issue
1
pages
18 pages
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:85122814687
ISSN
1043-4631
DOI
10.1177/10434631211073326
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3cbc295a-fdd2-49dc-b8af-410cf1199080
date added to LUP
2022-02-24 12:52:32
date last changed
2022-04-19 17:11:48
@article{3cbc295a-fdd2-49dc-b8af-410cf1199080,
  abstract     = {{<p>This paper reports results from a classroom dictator game comparing the effects of three different sets of standard instructions. The results show that seemingly small and typically unreported differences in standard instructions induce different perceptions regarding entitlement and ownership of the money to be distributed, and that these perceptions influence behaviour. Less is given when the task is described as a task of generosity and more when the task is a task of distribution (average 35% vs. 52%). The results can contribute to explaining the large variation in dictator game giving reported in the literature and show that even small and unreported differences in instructions change how the game is perceived. JEL codes: C70; C91; D63</p>}},
  author       = {{Bergh, Andreas and Wichardt, Philipp C.}},
  issn         = {{1043-4631}},
  keywords     = {{dictator games; framing effects; property rights; social preferences}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{78--95}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Rationality and Society}},
  title        = {{Mine or ours? Unintended framing effects in dictator games}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10434631211073326}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/10434631211073326}},
  volume       = {{34}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}