Minimizing learning behavior in repeated real-effort tasks

Arbeitspapier

In this paper, we discuss learning behavior and the heterogeneity of subjects' ability to perform in real-effort tasks. Afterwards, we present a novel variant of Erkal et al.'s (2011) encryption real-effort task which aims to minimize learning behavior in repeated settings. In the task, participants encrypt words into numbers. In our variant, we apply a double-randomization mechanism to minimize learning and heterogeneity. Existing experiments with repeated real-effort tasks find a performance increase of 12-14% between the first and second half. By contrast, our task mitigates learning behavior down to 2% between the first and second half. The data show that subjects show a small heterogeneity in performance.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: cege Discussion Papers ; No. 343

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Design of Experiments: General ; Design of Experiments: Laboratory, Individual
• Subject: Experimental Methods ; Learning Behavior ; Real Effort

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Benndorf, Volker ; Rau, Holger A. ; Sölch, Christian
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): University of Göttingen, Center for European, Governance and Economic Development Research (cege)
• (where): Göttingen
• (when): 2018

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/176391
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:41 AM CET