Empathy for the Devil: Can AI-Illustrated Vignettes Manipulate Affective Polarization and Democratic Values?

Last registered on November 01, 2023
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Empathy for the Devil: Can AI-Illustrated Vignettes Manipulate Affective Polarization and Democratic Values?
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0012387
Initial registration date
October 27, 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
November 01, 2023, 4:10 PM EDT

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

Locations

Country
Brazil
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Tiago Peterlevitz
Affiliation
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2023-11-01
End date
2023-11-04
Keywords
Behavior, Electoral, Governance
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This is the pre-analysis plan for a survey experiment investigating how AI-illustrated vignettes emphasizing tolerance and counter-stereotypes can foster empathy toward political adversaries.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Peterlevitz, Tiago. 2023. "Empathy for the Devil: Can AI-Illustrated Vignettes Manipulate Affective Polarization and Democratic Values?." AEA RCT Registry. November 01. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.12387-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
The intervention is designed to prompt respondents to consider the support of counter-stereotypical individuals or groups for the out-group candidate.
Intervention Start Date
2023-11-01
Intervention End Date
2023-11-04

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Affective Polarization, Social Distance Index, Free and Fair Elections Index, Corruption and Individual Rights Index, Political Violence Index
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Social Distance Variables: Discuss Politics, Employee Hiring, and Daughter’s Marriage; Free and Fair Elections variables: Reduce Public Transportation, Contest Election Results, and Increase Traffic Stops; Corruption and Individual Rights Variables: Disclose Classified Information, Extend Pretrial Detention, and Illegal Wiretapping; Political Violence Variables: Threaten Political Leader, Harass Out-Group Supporter, Violence for Political Goals, and Violence After Electoral Defeat.
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
I will use a two-condition (control vs. treatment) between-subjects design. Participants will indicate their political preferences and be categorized into three groups: Bolsonaristas, Lulistas, or neutral. Within each group, participants will be randomly assigned to either the treatment or control groups. Participants in the neutral group assigned to the treatment condition will randomly receive either the Bolsonaristas’ treatment or the Lulistas’ treatment.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization will be conducted by the online survey platform.
Randomization Unit
Participant (individual).
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
1
Sample size: planned number of observations
800-1000
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
400-500 participants in control and 400-500 participants in 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
Comitê De Conformidade Ética Em Pesquisas Envolvendo Seres Humanos – CEPH/FGV
IRB Approval Date
2023-10-24
IRB Approval Number
P.423.2023
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