(Un)Ethical Behaviour and Competition

Last registered on July 29, 2024
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
(Un)Ethical Behaviour and Competition
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0012038
Initial registration date
July 23, 2024

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
July 29, 2024, 5:12 PM EDT

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

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Name
Anna Rita Bennato
Affiliation
Loughborough University
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Alizée Cambier
PI Affiliation
Loughborough University
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PI Name
Anna Rita Bennato
PI Affiliation
Loughborough University
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PI Name
Ali Moghaddasi-Kelishomi
PI Affiliation
Loughborough University
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PI Name
Monica Giulietti
PI Affiliation
University of Nottingham
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PI Name
Glenn Dutcher
PI Affiliation
UNC Charlotte
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Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2024-08-01
End date
2026-08-01
Keywords
Behavior
Additional Keywords
unethical behaviour, competitive environment, negative externalities, incentives
JEL code(s)
D9; D4; L1
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
Competitive environments are known to drive more efficient outputs, and organizations frequently use contests to boost effort and performance levels. However, it remains unclear how increasing competitive pressure impacts individuals' self-assessment of their abilities and their use of resources. This raises the question of whether individuals and organizations might resort to unethical behavior to gain a competitive advantage. In this project, we will conduct an online experiment where participants will compete against peers in various competitive settings to explore this issue.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Bennato, Anna Rita et al. 2024. "(Un)Ethical Behaviour and Competition." AEA RCT Registry. July 29. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.12038-1.0
Sponsors & Partners

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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Each participant is randomly assigned to a specific treatment to complete individual real effort tasks. They consistently engage in the same real effort production activities.
Intervention Start Date
2024-08-01
Intervention End Date
2025-03-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
We are interested in individual productivity based on the competitive environment and the individual incentive scheme to which participants are assigned. One primary outcome metric will be the variation in individual contributions (investing efforts vs using the autosolve button) when a participant is placed in a specific competitive environment, which varies across sessions. We will also consider the amount of time spent on the second screen. Each participant takes part in only one session. We will analyse these differences using t-tests and standard panel regression analysis and difference in differences techniques.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
The proportion shared is calculated by taking the ratio of an individual's contribution to solving the task to the total output. We will also consider the number of tasks solved using the autosolve button relative to the total tasks solved, as well as the amount of time spent on the second screen.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
The pay rate (low or high) of a participant depends on the outcome of a Tullock contest against two randomly chosen opponents. This setup allows us to predict the amount of effort exerted in the tournament and assess a participant's ethical engagement. We also measure participants' beliefs using a survey question at the end of the experiment. Additionally, we evaluate participants' ethical perceptions regarding the use of the autosolve button and the negative externalities triggered by its use. Participants are also asked a set of questions about their personality. Finally, we capture beliefs about one's relative ability and the extent to which participants believe others in the experiment resorted to using the autosolve button to complete their tasks.
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Participants are asked to complete a real effort task. The experiment is conducted on an online platform that guides all participants through the process, which is self-administered. After receiving instructions and completing an unpaid practice exercise, the paid portion of the experiment begins. Participants complete two sets of five rounds each. The first set of five rounds is identical across all treatments, while a treatment variation is introduced in the second set. Participants are paid based on the sum of two randomly chosen rounds—one from the first set and one from the second set. The experiment concludes with a survey.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
The initial session will be assigned randomly according to the standard protocol implemented by the lab (via computer). We aim for a balanced sample, so final sessions may be scheduled on an as-needed basis. Participants will not know which treatment they are assigned to when they sign up for the study.
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
0
Sample size: planned number of observations
240 participants
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
60/80 participants per treatment
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
CESS Ethics
IRB Approval Date
2024-01-26
IRB Approval Number
VE_0033
IRB Name
Loughborough Ethics Review Sub-Committee
IRB Approval Date
2023-06-27
IRB Approval Number
2023-13458-15051
Analysis Plan

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