Fig-leafing and self-serving behavior

Last registered on March 19, 2025

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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title

Fig-leafing and self-serving behavior

RCT ID

AEARCTR-0015543

Initial registration date

March 14, 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

March 19, 2025, 9:00 AM 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

Arno Apffelstaedt

Affiliation

University of Cologne

Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name

Bernd Irlenbusch

PI Affiliation

University of Cologne

PI Name

Jan-Erik Lönnqvist

PI Affiliation

University of Helsinki

PI Name

Gari Walkowitz

PI Affiliation

TU Freiberg

Additional Trial Information

Status

In development

Start date

2025-03-18

End date

2027-03-31

Keywords

Behavior, Lab

Additional Keywords

JEL code(s)

Secondary IDs

Prior work

This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.

Abstract

We study the effects of allowing decision-makers to flip a coin when choosing between a prosocial and a self-serving outcome.

External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation

Apffelstaedt, Arno et al. 2025. "Fig-leafing and self-serving behavior." AEA RCT Registry. March 19. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.15543-1.0

Sponsors & Partners

Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)

There are three between-subject treatments: (1) NoCoin, (2) PrivateCoin, and (3) BindingCoin. In NoCoin, the decision-maker chooses directly between the self-serving and the prosocial outcome. In PrivateCoin, the decision-maker is informed that they may privately flip a coin, but the coin flip is not observed. When selecting an outcome, they are asked whether they flipped a coin flip to decide. In BindingCoin, the decision-maker can delegate the decision to a computerized coin flip, which is observed and binding.

Intervention Start Date

2025-03-18

Intervention End Date

2025-05-01

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)

There are two primary outcome variables: (1) Implemented Outcome: Which outcome was implemented (self-serving or prosocial)? (2) Coin flip report (only in treatment PrivateCoin): Whether the decision-maker says they flipped a coin (Yes/No).

Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)

Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

This is an online experiment conducted with an adult sample (UK subjects) recruited on the platform Prolific. Participants are matched into pairs consisting of a decision maker and a passive receiver. The decision-maker chooses between two outcomes, where one (the self-serving outcome) yields a benefit for the decision-maker at the cost of the receiver, relative to the other (prosocial) outcome. Before making the decision, pairs are randomly assigned within session to one of three between-subject treatments using a computer draw.

Experimental Design Details

Not available

Randomization Method

Pairs of individuals (consisting of a decision-maker and a receiver) are assigned to treatments at the individual (pair) level using automated sequential randomization in Qualtrics, ensuring balanced allocation across treatments within each data collection session.

Randomization Unit

Pair of individuals (consisting of one decision-maker and one receiver)

Was the treatment clustered?