Arbeitspapier

An experiment on experimental instructions

In this paper we treat instructions as an experimental variable. Using a public good game, we study how the instructions' format affects the participants' understanding of the experiment, their speed of play and their experimental behavior. We show that longer instructions do not significantly improve the subjects' understanding of the experiment; on-screen instructions shorten average decision times with respect to on-paper instructions, and requiring forced inputs reduces waiting times, in particular for the slowest subjects. Consistent with cognitive load theory, we find that short, on-screen instructions which require forced inputs improve on subjects' comprehension and familiarity with the experimental task, and they contribute to reduce both decision and waiting times without affecting the overall pattern of contributions.

Sprache
Englisch

Erschienen in
Series: Jena Economic Research Papers ; No. 2011,049

Klassifikation
Wirtschaft
Noncooperative Games
Design of Experiments: General
Public Goods
Thema
cognitive load theory
comprehension
distraction
experimental instructions
Experimentelle Ökonomik
Test
Kognition

Ereignis
Geistige Schöpfung
(wer)
Bigoni, Maria
Dragone, Davide
Ereignis
Veröffentlichung
(wer)
Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Max Planck Institute of Economics
(wo)
Jena
(wann)
2011

Handle
Letzte Aktualisierung
10.03.2025, 11:44 MEZ

Datenpartner

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Objekttyp

  • Arbeitspapier

Beteiligte

  • Bigoni, Maria
  • Dragone, Davide
  • Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Max Planck Institute of Economics

Entstanden

  • 2011

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