Conformity and latent preferences in student aspirations

Last registered on May 17, 2023

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Conformity and latent preferences in student aspirations
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0011270
Initial registration date
May 11, 2023

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
May 17, 2023, 2:36 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Region

Primary Investigator

Affiliation

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Affiliation
HEC Paris
PI Affiliation
Princeton University
PI Affiliation
Paris School of Economics
PI Affiliation

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2023-05-23
End date
2023-05-25
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
The purpose of the study is to understand students' career motivations, particularly the value they attach to various job features such as flexibility, environmental friendliness, gender equality, and working for a civic-minded company.

The objectives of this study are (i) to obtain a salary equivalent to the students' valuation of these job amenities; (ii) examine the extent to which students are able to predict their peer’s average choices; (iii) estimate peer effects, also translated into salary equivalents; (iv) study the variation of these willingnesses to pay (WTP) according to both group and individual characteristics.

This is a choice experiment between pairs of jobs A and B characterized by different amenities and different wage levels; for each such vignette, the subject is asked to state the probability that they would choose job A vs. job B and predict their peer’s choices (with an incentive for accuracy). Within the choices made by the students, we will also seek to distinguish what is based on their deep and personal preferences and what is based on conformity with peer’s choices. To do this, the experiment will include two arms: a treatment group in which information about the A/B choice probabilities of another previously interviewed group will be provided to them before they can make their own choices, and a control group without prior information.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Algan, Yann et al. 2023. "Conformity and latent preferences in student aspirations." AEA RCT Registry. May 17. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.11270-1.0
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention (Hidden)
Intervention Start Date
2023-05-24
Intervention End Date
2023-05-25

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Probability a subject chooses job A vs job B
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
This is a choice experiment between pairs of jobs A and B characterized by different amenities and different wage levels; for each such vignette, the subject is asked to state the probability that they would choose job A vs. job B. Within the choices made by the students, we will also seek to distinguish what is based on their deep and personal preferences and what is based on conformity with peer’s choices. To do this, the experiment will include two arms: a treatment group in which information about the A/B choice probabilities of another previously interviewed group will be provided to them before they can make their own choices, and a control group without prior information.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization done in office by a computer
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
One cohort from a graduate business school
Sample size: planned number of observations
800
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
20% control group
80% treatment group, itself divided in two subgroups (40% each)
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Paris School of Economics
IRB Approval Date
2023-04-04
IRB Approval Number
2023-009
Analysis Plan

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Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials