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Results Information and Donor Behavior
Last registered on December 04, 2018
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information
General Information
Title
Results Information and Donor Behavior
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0003528
Initial registration date
November 20, 2018
Last updated
December 04, 2018 11:26 AM EST
Location(s)
Country
United States of America
Region
Primary Investigator
Name
Shannon Coyne
Affiliation
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
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Other Primary Investigator(s)
PI Name
Sami Horn
PI Affiliation
Cargegie Mellon University
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PI Name
Dean Karlan
PI Affiliation
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
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Additional Trial Information
Status
On going
Start date
2018-11-01
End date
2019-02-27
Keywords
Other
Additional Keywords
charitable decision making, impact information, donor behavior
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Abstract
This study examines how the display of results and impact-related information affects donor behavior on a large charity rating website.
External Link(s)
Registration Citation
Citation
Coyne, Shannon, Sami Horn and Dean Karlan. 2018. "Results Information and Donor Behavior." AEA RCT Registry. December 04. https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/3528/history/38270
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details
Interventions
Intervention(s)
This study examines how the display of results and impact-related information affects donor behavior on a large charity rating website.
Intervention Start Date
2018-11-10
Intervention End Date
2019-02-27
Primary Outcomes
Primary Outcomes (end points)
The following outcome variables will be measured at the user level, using Charity Navigator's data analytics and web tracking tools:

1. Number of page views
2. Whether or not a user donates to charity (1/0)
3. Total donation amounts per user
4. Average donation amounts per user
5. Number of charities donated to
6. Proportion of total donations to charities with impact info
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
Secondary Outcomes
Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)
Experimental Design
Experimental Design
This study examines how the display of results and impact-related information affects donor behavior on a large charity rating website.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Online A/B test. Users visiting the Charity Navigator website will be randomized into one of two conditions.
Randomization Unit
User level
Was the treatment clustered?
No
Experiment Characteristics
Sample size: planned number of clusters
n/a
Sample size: planned number of observations
We estimate approximately 3,000,000 users based on the previous year’s traffic to Charity Navigator's website, however this may be higher or lower depending on the number of actual visitors during the date of intervention.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
We will include all users who access the website between the set dates. The sample is powered to detect differences in treatment effects.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Our intended sample size is approximately 3,000,000 users total. Based on power analyses, we estimate that this is adequate to detect a 1% change in page views, a 4% change in whether or not a user donates, and a 10% change in the average donation amount.
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB
INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARDS (IRBs)
IRB Name
IRB Approval Date
IRB Approval Number
Analysis Plan