The Dynamics of Social Image: Online Experiment

Last registered on August 18, 2023
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
The Dynamics of Social Image: Online Experiment
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0011361
Initial registration date
May 04, 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 12, 2023, 5:21 PM EDT

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

Last updated
August 18, 2023, 3:40 AM EDT

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Country
Germany
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Fabian Hoffmann
Affiliation
University of Cologne
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2023-05-10
End date
2024-12-31
Keywords
Behavior
Additional Keywords
Social Image Concerns
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
I run an experiment to explore the dynamics of social image concerns.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Hoffmann, Fabian. 2023. "The Dynamics of Social Image: Online Experiment." AEA RCT Registry. August 18. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.11361-1.1
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention (Hidden)
I measure how a prior image moderates the effect of image concerns on prosocial behavior in two settings. In setting 1 the prior image indicated generosity and in setting 2 the prior image indicates selfishness. Each setting has two treatment arms (interventions): a (1) private treatment and (2) a public treatment. In the private treatments, the prior image cannot be observed by others. In the public treatment, the prior image is observable by others.
Intervention Start Date
2023-05-10
Intervention End Date
2024-12-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Amount donated in the second donation.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
I measure how a prior image moderates the effect of image concerns on prosocial behavior in an online experiment.
Experimental Design Details
The experiment uses a within-subject design and varies whether the subject already has a social image
based on previous behavior or not and whether this image indicates generosity or selfishness. The subject’s
main task is to make two donations to the charity ’Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk’ (DKHW). The first donation
establishes a generous or selfish image and the second donation is used to measure the moderating effect of
this image.
In the first donation decision, the subject can choose any amount between 0€ and 100€. The subject’s
choice is realized with 90% probability. With 10% probability the donation amount is randomly drawn by
the computer. A donation below the average (of all first donations) is labeled as a ’low donation’ and a
donation above or equal the average is labeled as a ’high donation’. In the second donation, the subject can
choose any amount between 0€ and 100€ to donate to the charity.
The exact amount of the second donation is always made public. To generate a prior image of selfishness or
generosity, the label of the first donation is used. The label is randomly drawn to either stay private (50%
probability) or to be made public (50% probability). Publication means that the subject has to announce,
conditional on the selected case, the label of the first donation, and the exact amount of the second donation
in a video conference with all participants present.
The subject chooses her second donation for each of the four possible cases (in a randomized order):
• The first donation is low and stays private.
• The first donation is low and is made public.
• The fist donation is high and stays private.
• The first donation is high and is made public.
When making her decision, the subject is uninformed which of the four cases will materialize. All subjects
receive a flat payment. Additionally, for a randomly selected subject, one of the two donation decisions
(first or second) is randomly selected and realized. Only the randomly selected subject has to do the public
announcement.
Randomization Method
Random draw done by a computer (for detail see experimental design)
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
180-240 individuals
Sample size: planned number of observations
180-240 individuals
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
180-240
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences, University of Cologne
IRB Approval Date
2023-05-08
IRB Approval Number
230020FH
Analysis Plan

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

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