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A note on making humans randomize

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  • Bruttel, Lisa
  • Friehe, Tim

Abstract

This note presents results from an experiment studying a two-person 4×4 pure coordination game. We explore different strategy labels in an attempt to implement the mixed-strategy equilibrium that selects all four strategies with equal probability. Such strategy labels must be free from salient properties that might be used by participants to coordinate. Testing 23 different sets of strategy labels, we identify two sets that produce a distribution of subjects’ choices which approximate the uniform distribution quite well. Our results are relevant for studies intending to compare the behavior of subjects who play against a random mechanism with that of participants who play against human counterparts.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruttel, Lisa & Friehe, Tim, 2015. "A note on making humans randomize," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 40-45.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:58:y:2015:i:c:p:40-45
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2015.06.008
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Coordination game; Experiment; Mixed strategy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C71 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Cooperative 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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