Do saliency of extreme actions to secure a COVID-19 vaccine increase demand for the vaccine?

Last registered on March 03, 2021
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Do saliency of extreme actions to secure a COVID-19 vaccine increase demand for the vaccine?
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0007285
Initial registration date
March 02, 2021

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 03, 2021, 11:00 AM EST

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

Locations

Country
United States of America
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Linda Thunstrom
Affiliation
University of Wyoming
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Johanna Mollerstrom
PI Affiliation
George Mason University
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2021-03-03
End date
2021-06-30
Keywords
Health
Additional Keywords
COVID-19 vaccine, scarcity, demand
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Abstract
This study aims to examine if saliency of extreme actions to secure a COVID-19 affects demand for the vaccine. Specifically, we will design an economic experiment to test the effect on vaccine demand from information about rich people jumping the line or information about vaccine hunters. We will use willingness-to-pay (WTP) for a service to facilitate the booking of vaccine appointments as a proxy for demand for the vaccine itself.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Mollerstrom, Johanna and Linda Thunstrom. 2021. "Do saliency of extreme actions to secure a COVID-19 vaccine increase demand for the vaccine?." AEA RCT Registry. March 03. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.7285-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
This study aims to examine if saliency of extreme actions to secure a COVID-19 affects demand for the vaccine. Specifically, we will design an economic experiment to test the effect on vaccine demand from information about rich people jumping the line or information about vaccine hunters. We will do so by randomizing participants into one of the following treatments:
1. Treatment with information on rich people jumping the vaccine line
2. Treatment with information about vaccine hunters
3. Treatment with information about the vaccine development process
4. Control information (no information beyond the one given to all participants)
Intervention Start Date
2021-03-03
Intervention End Date
2021-04-30

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
WTP for a vaccine service that helps facilitate the booking of a vaccine appointment.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
To elicit WTP, we will use a multiple price list.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We will design an economic experiment to test the effect on vaccine demand from information about rich people jumping the line or information about vaccine hunters. We will do so by randomizing participants into one of the following treatments:
1. Treatment with information on rich people jumping the vaccine line
2. Treatment with information about vaccine hunters
3. Treatment with information about the safety of the vaccine
4. Control information (no information beyond the one given to all participants)
After being subjected to the treatments, all participants will be asked about their WTP for a service that helps with the identification and booking of an appointment to get a vaccine.
Experimental Design Details
We will design an economic experiment to test the effect on vaccine demand from information about rich people jumping the line or information about vaccine hunters. We will do so by randomizing participants into one of the following treatments:
1. Treatment with information on rich people jumping the vaccine line
2. Treatment with information about vaccine hunters
3. Treatment with information about the safety of the vaccine
4. Control information (no information beyond the one given to all participants)
After being subjected to the treatments, all participants will be asked about their WTP for a service that helps with the identification and booking of an appointment to get a vaccine.
Randomization Method
By the computer.
Randomization Unit
Individual.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
None.
Sample size: planned number of observations
1500
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Participants will be randomized across all four treatments, such that we expect 375 participants in each treatment.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Institutional Review Board at George Mason University
IRB Approval Date
2021-03-02
IRB Approval Number
1724890-1
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