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Do children stop cheating when someone else reaps the benefits? A lab in the field experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Julia Kramer

    (University of Paderborn)

  • Silvia Lübbecke

    (University of Paderborn)

  • Nina Lucia Stephan

    (University of Paderborn)

Abstract

This paper describes a lab in the field experiment with 512 children, investigating whether cheating depends on who receives the benefits from cheating. In the experiment, children privately toss a fair coin with a 50\% chance of winning a prize and subsequently report the outcome. Children are partnered with another child. In the treatment group, the prize in case of winning is received by the passive partner, instead of the child tossing the coin. We find that the share of prize winning outcomes is significantly reduced when the prize is received by the partner. Results are strongest when the partner is a stranger. In line with existing literature, this effect is weaker and eventually disappears among older children. We argue that part of the effect is explained by children cheating to prevent the partner from receiving the prize, and hence, engaging in downward cheating.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia Kramer & Silvia Lübbecke & Nina Lucia Stephan, 2019. "Do children stop cheating when someone else reaps the benefits? A lab in the field experiment," Working Papers Dissertations 33, Paderborn University, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:pdn:dispap:33
    as

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    File URL: http://groups.uni-paderborn.de/wp-wiwi/RePEc/pdf/dispap/DP33.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Utikal, Verena & Fischbacher, Urs, 2013. "Disadvantageous lies in individual decisions," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 108-111.
    2. Fosgaard, Toke Reinholt & Hansen, Lars Gaarn & Piovesan, Marco, 2013. "Separating Will from Grace: An experiment on conformity and awareness in cheating," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 279-284.
    3. Glätzle-Rützler, Daniela & Lergetporer, Philipp, 2015. "Lying and age: An experimental study," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 12-25.
    4. Valeria Maggian & Marie Claire Villeval, 2016. "Social preferences and lying aversion in children," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 19(3), pages 663-685, September.
    5. Julian Conrads, 2014. "The Effect of Communication Channels on Lying," Cologne Graduate School Working Paper Series 05-06, Cologne Graduate School in Management, Economics and Social Sciences.
    6. Bucciol, Alessandro & Piovesan, Marco, 2011. "Luck or cheating? A field experiment on honesty with children," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 73-78, February.
    7. Julie Chytilova & Vaclav Korbel, 2014. "Individual and Group Cheating Behavior: A Field Experiment with Adolescents," Working Papers IES 2014/06, Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Economic Studies, revised Mar 2014.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    cheating; dishonesty; altruism; children; lab-in-the-field experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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