Effort under recurring and persistent temptation

Last registered on June 10, 2019

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Effort under recurring and persistent temptation
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0004236
Initial registration date
June 05, 2019

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 10, 2019, 9:51 PM EDT

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

Locations

Primary Investigator

Affiliation
National Taiwan University

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Affiliation
National Taiwan University

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2019-05-27
End date
2019-07-31
Secondary IDs
Abstract
We seek to research willingness to exert effort under recurring and persistent temptation. In particular, we want to study the potential depletion of willpower by varying the frequency of opportunity to quit. By varying the frequency of this temptation, we are able to capture whether not refusing a temptation is indeed reducing a limited pool of willpower, or if it is the actual task itself that reduces willpower, or if neither have an effect on quitting behavior. We conduct a laboratory experiment to try and answer this question. In addition, we vary piece rates and payment delay to observe how these may have a role on the ability to refuse temptation to quit. For example, if the reward (payment) is closer in time, does the opportunity to quit instead serve as a reminder of their benefits and encourage persistence? Vs a reward much later, where opportunities to quit are merely reminders of the cost of effort?
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
DeJarnette, Patrick and Gene Zhuang. 2019. "Effort under recurring and persistent temptation ." AEA RCT Registry. June 10. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.4236-1.0
Former Citation
DeJarnette, Patrick and Gene Zhuang. 2019. "Effort under recurring and persistent temptation ." AEA RCT Registry. June 10. https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/4236/history/47836
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
This intervention is regarding the frequency of quit opportunity. Although subjects can quit at any time, to earn the extra earnings, they must quit at approved times. Please see the Hidden Intervention after completion of study for more details.
Intervention Start Date
2019-05-27
Intervention End Date
2019-07-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
The number of seconds after 13 minutes that the worker decides to quit.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Percentage and Number of tasks completed
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)
In this experiment, the tasks are pop up string-reversal tasks with a 15 second timer, that require effort and attention. As a result, not every problem will be successfully completed.

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
This experiment design is an intervention is regarding the frequency of quit opportunity. Although subjects can quit at any time, to earn the extra earnings, they must quit at approved times. Please see the Hidden Intervention after completion of study for more details.
Experimental Design Details
In the primary treatment arm, there are three groups: In one group, this opportunity to quit is always present after 13 minutes (persistent temptation). In a second group, the opportunity to quit occurs every 5 minutes (starting at the 13 minute mark). In another treatment, this opportunity to quit occurs every 10 minutes (starting at the 13 minute mark).

In the secondary treatment arm, we vary the piece rates for completing each problem (either 0.5,1, or 2 NTD).

In a third treatment arm, we vary the delay of the payment, either (a) within 3 hours of quitting or (b) in precisely 7 days of quitting.
Randomization Method
Randomization is done in office by a computer (the subject's computer in the laboratory).
Randomization Unit
Done at the individual level
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
120 subjects, but we may have trouble recruiting that many prior to the end of the grant period (academic year ending).
Sample size: planned number of observations
120 subjects
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Equal proportion in each treatment. So 40 for each frequency treament. 40 for each payment rate. 60 for each payment delay.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Estimated 80 subjects based on pilot data (5 min vs 10 min fequency difference). Since we added a third primary treatment group, that is 120 subjects total.
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Research Ethics Office (Research Ethics Committee) at NTU
IRB Approval Date
2019-03-04
IRB Approval Number
201902HS004

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