Study title

Effect of Punishment and Justification Treatments on Contributions in a Trust Game Experiment 2016

Dataset ID Number

FSD3661

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3661

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Herne, Kaisa (University of Tampere)
• Setälä, Maija (University of Turku)
• Lappalainen, Olli (University of Turku)
• Ylisalo, Juha (University of Turku)

Abstract

The study examined the effect of punishment and justification treatments on participants' behaviour in a trust game experiment. The data were collected during a computer-based decision-making experiment where the subjects participated in a three-player variant of the trust game with two senders and one responder.

The experiment consisted of six rounds that each had three stages. The participants were given points throughout the game, and a sum was rewarded to them at the end of the experiment based on the amount of their points: two points corresponded to one euro. The reward sum was paid based on the result of a single randomly selected round of the experiment, which was chosen with the roll of a six-sided dice. The senders chose how the points were shared during the first stage of each round, while the responders made the decision during the second stage. Before the start of the experiment, the participants were randomly divided into four groups: Punishment, Justification, Punishment and Justification, and Baseline. Senders in the Punishment group were able to punish the responder during stage 3 of the round by reducing the responder's points at the cost of their own points. Responders in the Justification group had to justify their decisions during stage 2 of the round, and the justifications were shown to the senders before stage 3. In the Punishment and Justification group, responders had to justify their decisions in stage 2, and the senders could punish the responder after reading the justifications at the beginning of stage 3. In the Baseline group, the experiment was conducted without the punishment and justification treatments.

In the first stage of each round, the senders made an independent decision on how many points they wanted to share with the responder. In the second stage, the responder sent points back to the senders, and those in the Justification group also wrote down reasons for their decision. In the third stage, all participants received 12 additional points, and the decisions and points from the previous rounds were shown to all participants. Senders in the Punishment and Punishment and Justification groups were able to reduce the responder's points at this stage at the cost of their own additional points.

After the experiment, the participants responded to a survey. Questions examined, for example, the participants' trust in other people and institutions, activity in civic organisations and volunteer work, and donations to charity. Further questions surveyed the participants' emotions in various situations as well as their views on human behaviour in general. Additionally, the participants' social relationships, religiosity, opinions on political issues, and political party preference were charted. Background variables included the participant's year of birth, gender, household composition, and the year when the participant had started their university studies.

Keywords

behavioural sciences; decision making; human behaviour; punishment; rewards; trust

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Social behaviour and attitudes (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Political behaviour and attitudes (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Decision-Making Laboratory Experiments and Surveys

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (A) openly available for all users without registration (CC BY 4.0).

Data Collector

• PCRC Decision Laboratory (PCRClab)

Funders

• Academy of Finland (274305)
• Academy of Finland (312671)
• Academy of Finland. The Strategic Research Council (326662)
• University of Turku (Open Access funding)

Time Period Covered

2016

Collection Dates

2016-02-08 – 2016-03-15

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Event/Process/Activity

Universe

Volunteer participants from the participant register of the PCRC Decision Laboratory (PCRClab) of University of Turku

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Mixed probability and non-probability

The participants were members of the PCRC Decision Laboratory's (PCRClab) participant register. The sample was randomly drawn from among the members of the register.

Anyone can sign up as a volunteer participant in the PCRClab participant register. The register has over 2,000 members, who are primarily students. Participation in experiments is compensated with a monetary reward. The laboratory can accommodate up to 20 participants at a time. Each participant is allocated their own desk and computer. To ensure an even number of participants for each experimental session, 21 participants are recruited for each session, with one of the 21 participants acting as a replacement. If all the participants attend the experimental session, the replacement participant will not need to participate and they will receive compensation for their time.

Collection Mode

Laboratory experiment

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Research Instrument

Participant tasks

Structured questionnaire

Data File Language

Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: English.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Number of Cases and Variables

181 variables and 1296 cases.

Data Version

1.0

Related Datasets

FSD3692 Deliberative Mini-Public on the Satakunta 2050 Regional Plan

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

When analysing the data, it should be noted that most of the variables are in string format.

To prevent identification of participants, the variable denoting the participant's major and open-ended variables of the type 'other, please specify' relating to memberships in organisations and religious organisations were removed from the data. In the dummy variables Q19PartyAss1-Q19PartyAss9, the respondents could have chosen more than one political party.

Weighting

There are no weight variables in the data.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Herne, Kaisa (University of Tampere) & Setälä, Maija (University of Turku) & Lappalainen, Olli (University of Turku) & Ylisalo, Juha (University of Turku): Effect of Punishment and Justification Treatments on Contributions in a Trust Game Experiment 2016 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2023-08-28). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3661

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Materials

Website of the PCRC Decision Laboratory

Related Publications

Herne, K., Lappalainen, O., Setälä, M. & Ylisalo, J. Accountability as a Warrant for Trust: An Experiment on Sanctions and Justifications in a Trust Game. Theory Decis 93, 615-648 (2022).