Does regret affect productivity and decision making? Evidence from lab experiments.

Last registered on June 20, 2025
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Does regret affect productivity and decision making? Evidence from lab experiments.
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0015930
Initial registration date
June 16, 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
June 20, 2025, 11:34 AM EDT

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

Locations

Country
Colombia
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Angela Doku
Affiliation
Toronto Metropolitan University
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Camila Galindo
PI Affiliation
Universidad de los Andes
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Chien-Yu Lai
PI Affiliation
National Taiwan University
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Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2025-06-16
End date
2025-12-31
Keywords
Behavior, Lab, Labor
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This study will explore the relationship between regret, the negative emotion experienced when a chosen option yields less desirable outcomes than the alternative, and labor productivity. We aim to understand how regret influences decision-making and productivity by developing a model where regret reduces the utility of wages net of effort. Theoretical implications are tested with a two-stage lab-experiment where participants choose from two similar tasks and are randomized into one of five groups: a regret group which receives information on the realized wage of the task not chosen which is higher relative to their wage; a rejoice group that receives a higher wage than that of the alternative task; a lucky group that receives the same wage in their task as they would in the alternative task, both of which are a high wage; an unlucky group that receives the same wage in their task as they would in the alternative task, both of which are a low wage; and a control group who receives no information on the wage of the task not chosen. In the second stage all participants perform the chosen task. We hypothesize that participants experiencing regret will be less productive than in the absence of regret.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Doku, Angela, Camila Galindo and Chien-Yu Lai. 2025. "Does regret affect productivity and decision making? Evidence from lab experiments.." AEA RCT Registry. June 20. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.15930-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention (Hidden)
Intervention Start Date
2025-06-16
Intervention End Date
2025-08-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Earnings from the tasks, number of tasks completed correctly, time spent completing tasks
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Time spent choosing a task, emotions, time preferences, risk preferences.
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)
Emotions measured: anger, elation, envy, happiness irritation, regret, relief, sadness

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Participants will first complete a survey on a computer, which will then randomly assign them into treatment and control groups. The randomized groups are as follows: a regret group which receives information on the realized wage of the task not chosen which is higher relative to their wage; a rejoice group that receives a higher wage than that of the alternative task; a lucky group that receives the same wage in their task as they would in the alternative task, both of which are a high wage; an unlucky group that receives the same wage in their task as they would in the alternative task, both of which are a low wage; and a control group who receives no information on the wage of the task not chosen. Participants in the experiment will choose between two real-effort tasks requiring a similar level of effort. Once they choose their task, their wage will be revealed, after which they will work on their task. In principle, agents might experience regret for: (i) providing too much effort given their earnings, and (ii) obtaining a low payoff, given the effort provided. Participants will then work on their task for up to 40 minutes, and will be paid based on their successful completion of tasks (in addition to an overall participation fee).


Experimental Design Details
The payoff for each task will be randomly selected – one with a higher payoff, and the other with a lower payoff, which participants will uncover after selecting their task. This set-up will allow us to determine whether the feeling of regret (i.e., lower payoff), or rejoice (i.e., higher payoff) affects productivity, as well as effort. We will also stratify by formal jobs versus non formal jobs.
Randomization Method
Respondents will be randomized by a computer in the lab.
Randomization Unit
Respondents will be randomized on an individual level.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
Sample size of 500 individuals (no clusters).
Sample size: planned number of observations
Sample size of 500 individuals.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
There will be five groups, with a sample size of 100 in each group. Specifically, the control group will have 100 individuals, and the four treatment groups will also have 100 individuals in each group.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Toronto Metropolitan University Research Ethics Board
IRB Approval Date
2025-03-17
IRB Approval Number
REB 2024-502
IRB Name
Universidad de los Andes
IRB Approval Date
2025-02-19
IRB Approval Number
Acta No 2013 de 2025
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