How Colleagues' Working Time Affect Working Hours Decisions

Last registered on October 07, 2024
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
How Colleagues' Working Time Affect Working Hours Decisions
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0014510
Initial registration date
October 03, 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
October 07, 2024, 7:18 PM EDT

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

Locations

Country
Germany
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Zarah Westrich
Affiliation
University of Duisburg-Essen
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2024-10-01
End date
2024-10-11
Keywords
Behavior, Labor
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
J22, D9
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
Even if it can be individually beneficial and rational to work more hours than others, the corresponding behaviour can lead to a collective increase in working hours without an increase in individual benefits. We investigate how the hours worked by colleagues affect working hours decisions.

We conduct a survey experiment employing a between-subjects design with a representative sample of full- and part-time employees in Germany. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups, with each group receiving a different hypothetical scenario. Depending on the treatment group, participants are informed that most of their colleagues work more, fewer or the same number of hours as they do. They are then asked how many hours a week they would like to work.

Our experimental design allows us to identify the causal effects of colleagues’ working hours on individual working hours decisions and to analyse heterogenous effects between socio-demographic groups and by attitudes.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Westrich, Zarah. 2024. "How Colleagues' Working Time Affect Working Hours Decisions ." AEA RCT Registry. October 07. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.14510-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention (Hidden)
Intervention Start Date
2024-10-01
Intervention End Date
2024-10-11

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Desired working hours
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The survey experiment is part of a survey of 5000 full-time and part-time employees between the ages of 18 and 65 in Germany. The sample is representative in terms of age, gender, federal state, full or part-time employment and net household income.

We conduct a survey experiment employing a between-subjects design. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups, resulting in 1666 participants per group. Each group receives a different hypothetical scenario. The participants are informed of the number of hours that the majority of colleagues have decided to work. The exact number of hours given to the participants depends on the actual working hours worked by each participant. Depending on the treatment group, participants are informed that most of their colleagues work 20% more, 20% fewer or the same number of hours as they do. They are then asked how many hours per week they would choose to work if they took into account that their earnings would change in line with their working hours. Our experimental design allows us to identify the causal effects of colleagues’ working hours on individual working hours decisions.

As part of the wider survey, questions are asked about employment, working conditions, attitudes, and socio-demographic characteristics. These additional questions allow us to examine differences between socio-demographic groups and by attitudes.
Experimental Design Details
Main Hypotheses:
1) Respondents state a higher desired number of hours than the reference working hours they received.
2) Participants in the treatment “more hours” choose a higher number of working hours than their actual working hours.
3) Participants in the treatment “fewer hours” choose a lower number of working hours than their actual working hours.
4) Participants in the treatment “same hours” choose a higher number of working hours than their actual working hours.
5) The effect is the strongest for “more hours” treatment.
6) The effect is smallest for “same hours” treatment.
7) Sensitivity to treatment differs according to characteristics, such as gender, age, and attitudes towards work.
Randomization Method
Done by survey institute
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
0
Sample size: planned number of observations
5000
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
1666
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, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Duisburg-Essen
IRB Approval Date
2024-08-26
IRB Approval Number
N/A
Analysis Plan

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