L10: Framing effects in natural field experiments (Gachter et al. 2009)

Question 1

Explain the natural field experiment done by (Gachter et al. 2009)?

Answer 1

• The participants were junior and senior experimental scientists, who registered for the 2006 ESA Conference
• All people who had submitted a paper for the conference were reminded about their registration

Question 2

How was framing manipulation used here?

Answer 2

• Framing manipulation: fee for late registration
  Half were told there is a $50 penalty for registering after the first deadline, other half were told there is a discount of $50 for registering before the first deadline

Question 3

What were the findings of (Gachter et al. 2009)? (2, 1 aggregate, 1 segmental)

Answer 3

1) Aggregate data shows no evidence of framing effect
2) However, in the Junior group, 1/3rd in discount treatment registered late, whereas in the penalty frame almost all of them registered early tf some supporting evidence for framing effects.