Cooperation in a Public Goods Game Across Network Structures

Last registered on June 03, 2026
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Cooperation in a Public Goods Game Across Network Structures
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0018647
Initial registration date
May 28, 2026

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 03, 2026, 8:57 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
Theresa Easley
Affiliation
University of Rhode Island
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Todd Guilfoos
PI Affiliation
University of Rhode Island
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2026-06-15
End date
2026-07-31
Keywords
Behavior
Additional Keywords
Cooperation
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
The purpose of this research study is to examine how people make decisions about cooperation in group settings, and how different patterns of interaction, or networks, and the possibility of future interactions influence those decisions. This research aims to improve understanding of how cooperation develops and is sustained when individuals have restricted information about other group members.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Easley, Theresa and Todd Guilfoos. 2026. "Cooperation in a Public Goods Game Across Network Structures." AEA RCT Registry. June 03. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.18647-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
The interventions in this study are the random assignment to role and network configuration. Both are assigned at the stage where groups are formed in the experiment.
Intervention Start Date
2026-06-15
Intervention End Date
2026-07-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
The primary outcomes of interest in this experiment are:
Group cooperation within different network structures and with different likelihoods of game continuation.
Individual cooperation by location in different network structures and with different likelihoods of game continuation.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
Cooperation will be approximated by monetary units (MU) that participants and groups contribute within games.
It is expected that:
- more central players will contribute more monetary units than less central participants.
- group-level contributions will decrease in order: circle > cross > line
- individual and group-level contributions will increase as likelihood of game continuation increases

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Local connectivity parameters, such as betweenness and closeness centrality, will be explored for how well they predict group and individual-level contributions.
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Participants will be randomly assigned to a position within one of three network structures. Participants will play multiple rounds and games under two different likelihoods of game continuation. Each round, participants are endowed with 10 game units and are able to donate units to a group pot. The square root of their donation is given to each participant and they keep the units they did not donate. Payoffs accumulate.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Randomization of role and network configuration conducted via Qualtrics survey
Randomization Unit
Individual for role and group for network structure and likelihood of game continuation.
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
66 networks
Sample size: planned number of observations
pooled by group we will have 561 observations at the group level.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
11 circle networks with 60% likelihood of game continuation,
11 circle networks with 80% likelihood of game continuation,
11 line networks with 60% likelihood of game continuation,
11 line networks with 80% likelihood of game continuation,
11 cross networks with 60% likelihood of game continuation,
11 cross networks with 80% likelihood of game continuation
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
The expected standardized effect size (cohen's d) is approximately 0.75 and the power calculations assume a significance level of 0.05 and power of 0.90. Power calculations were informed by treatment effects reported in Naive Learning and Cooperation in Network Experiments by Oliver Kirchkamp and Rosemarie Nagel (2007) for one round of observation at the group level. Statistical power is increased through repeated observations across rounds and the inclusion of two supergames per participant group.
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
The University of Rhode Island Institutional Review Board
IRB Approval Date
2026-05-06
IRB Approval Number
IRB2526-212
Analysis Plan