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Does Playing Against An Error Prone Opponent Influence Learning in Nim?

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  • McKinney, C. Nicholas
  • Van Huyck, John B.

Abstract

When learning to play a game well, does it help to play against an opponent who makes the same sort of mistakes one tends to make or is it better to play against a procedurally rational algorithm, which never makes mistakes? This paper investigates subject performance in the game of Nim. We find evidence that subject performance improves more when playing against a human opponent than against a procedurally rational algorithm. We also find that subjects learn to recognize certain heuristics that improve their overall performance in more complex games.

Suggested Citation

  • McKinney, C. Nicholas & Van Huyck, John B., 2021. "Does Playing Against An Error Prone Opponent Influence Learning in Nim?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:95:y:2021:i:c:s2214804321001038
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2021.101763
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bounded rationality; learning; heuristics; perfect information; Nim; human behavior; experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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