Magical thinking and time

Last registered on September 19, 2022
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Magical thinking and time
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0007549
Initial registration date
May 18, 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
May 18, 2021, 9:43 AM EDT

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

Last updated
September 19, 2022, 2:24 PM EDT

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Country
Sweden
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Joakim Semb
Affiliation
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2021-05-19
End date
2022-12-31
Keywords
Behavior
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This experiment investigates the role of magical thinking in binary dictator games. In a 2x2 treatment design, subjects are randomly allocated across two treatment dimensions: Certainty and Time. The Certainty dimensions varies whether subjects are matched in traditional giver-receiver pairs (Role Certainty) or whether they are matched into pairs in which both subjects make dictator decisions and it is randomly determined which decision is actually implemented (Role Uncertainty). The Time dimension varies whether the subject participates before or after his or her opponent (the second-mover receives no information about the first-mover's choices).
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Semb, Joakim. 2022. "Magical thinking and time." AEA RCT Registry. September 19. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.7549-1.1
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2021-05-19
Intervention End Date
2021-06-30

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Individual giving.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
Giving decisions in binary dictator games.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
In a 2x2 treatment design, subjects are randomly allocated across two treatment dimensions: Certainty and Time. The Certainty dimensions varies whether subjects are matched in traditional giver-receiver pairs (Role Certainty) or whether they are matched into pairs in which both subjects make dictator decisions and it is randomly determined which decision is actually implemented (Role Uncertainty). The Time dimension varies whether the subject participates before or after his or her opponent (the second-mover receives no information about the first-mover's choices).

Participants (except receivers in RC conditions) then make 20 binary allocation decisions, choosing between two allocations between themselves and their matched partner.

The parameter of interest is the interaction between certainty and time: does role uncertainty increase giving less among second-movers?
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Computer randomization
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
Approx. 1200 decision-making participants, plus approx. 600 receivers
Sample size: planned number of observations
Approx. 1200 decision-making participants, plus approx. 600 receivers. 20 decisions per decision-making participant.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Approx. 300 decisionmakers in each of the four treatment cells.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
IRB Approval Date
IRB Approval Number
Analysis Plan

Analysis Plan Documents

Pre-plan MT

MD5: 3f688b6ecaff593f234485dbf6869cfd

SHA1: 768472b338d3b52bf18008181d779c7a3f94cd64

Uploaded At: May 18, 2021

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

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