Excuse My Behavior: Social Norms and Moral Costs: Extension on Norm Correction

Last registered on February 12, 2025
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Excuse My Behavior: Social Norms and Moral Costs: Extension on Norm Correction
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0015370
Initial registration date
February 11, 2025

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
February 12, 2025, 12:28 PM EST

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
Matthias Holzmann
Affiliation
KU Eichstaett-Ingolstadt
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Alexander M. Danzer
PI Affiliation
KU Eichstaett-Ingolstadt
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Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2025-01-27
End date
2025-12-31
Keywords
Behavior, Environment & Energy
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
D01, D91, H23
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial is based on or builds upon one or more prior RCTs.
Abstract
This project extends a previously registered RCT, "Excuse My Behavior: Social Norms and Moral Costs." In the original between-subject survey experiment, participants made hypothetical consumption decisions involving a trade-off between monetary gains and carbon emissions. Preliminary analyses show that individuals overestimate the share of non-environmentally friendly consumption choices. These misperceptions about social norms may influence environmentally relevant behaviors. Therefore, in a survey experiment we test whether correcting these misperceptions shifts consumption choices, affects pro-environmental actions, and alters the perceived importance of climate policy in voting.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Danzer, Alexander M. and Matthias Holzmann. 2025. "Excuse My Behavior: Social Norms and Moral Costs: Extension on Norm Correction." AEA RCT Registry. February 12. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.15370-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
We will correct individuals misperceived beliefs about other's consumption choices.
Intervention Start Date
2025-02-12
Intervention End Date
2025-02-21

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
consumption choices, changes in pro-environmental behavior, signing a petition, the perceived importance of climate policy for the voting decision, and changes in voting intentions.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We randomly assign participants to either receive accurate information about the true share of product choices from the first survey wave (i.e., correcting beliefs) or to a control condition without correction. Following this, we elicit their hypothetical consumption decisions in the three product categories: transportation, food, and clothing. Additionally, we elicit the willingness to engage in more climate-friendly behavior and measure whether participants sign a political petition advocating for stronger climate action (targeted at the German government). Finally, we elicit voting intentions in the up-coming elections in Germany.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Qualtrics survey software
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
Roughly 1900 individuals
Sample size: planned number of observations
Roughly 1900 individuals
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
The experiment will be run in the second wave of a panel study. We recruited 2414 individuals in the first suvey wave and the survey company we are working with usually reports an attrition rate between 20 and 30 percent. Therefore, we plan with roughly 950 individuals per treatment arm and a total of 1900 individuals.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
IRB KU Eichstaett-Ingolstadt
IRB Approval Date
2024-07-26
IRB Approval Number
183-2024
Analysis Plan

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