Experimental data: compliance and the power of authority 2012

Zizzo, Daniel John (2017). Experimental data: compliance and the power of authority 2012. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive. 10.5255/UKDA-SN-852047

This network project brings together economists, psychologists, computer and complexity scientists from three leading centres for behavioural social science at Nottigham, Warwick and UEA. This group will lead a research programme with two broad objectives: (1) to develop and test cross-disciplinary models of human behaviour and behaviour change and (2) to draw out their implications for the formulation and evaluation of public policy. Foundational research will focus on three inter-related themes: (1) understanding individual behaviour and behaviour change; (2) understanding social and interactive behaviour and (3) rethinking the foundations of policy analysis.

Data description (abstract)

The project will explore implications of the basic science for policy via a series of applied projects connecting naturally with the three themes. These will include: the determinants of consumer credit behaviour, the formation of social values, and strategies for evaluation of policies affecting health and safety. The research will integrate theoretical perspectives from multiple disciplines and utilize a wide range of complementary methodologies including: theoretical modeling of individuals, groups and complex systems, conceptual analysis; lab and field experiments and analysis of large data sets. The Network will promote high quality cross-disciplinary research and serve as a policy forum for understanding behaviour and behaviour change. We use an experiment to show that compliance to a cue by an authority is a powerful motivating mechanism. We do this in an experiment where there are direct orders or indirect cues to destroy half of another participant’s earnings at a cost to one’s own earnings. Depending on the experimental treatment, up to around 60-70% of participants decide to comply with the orders or cues being provided.

Data creators:
Creator Name Affiliation ORCID (as URL)
Zizzo Daniel John Newcastle University
Sponsors: ESRC
Grant reference: ES/K002201/1
Topic classification: Economics
Keywords: business economics, obedience, authority
Project title: Network for Integrated Behavioural Science
Grant holders: Chris Starmer, Abigail Barr, Uwe Aickelin, Robin Cubitt, Neil Stewart, Graham Loomes, Nick Chater, John Gathergood, Anders Poulsen, Theodore Turocy
Project dates:
FromTo
31 December 201230 December 2016
Date published: 12 Jan 2016 13:37
Last modified: 24 Dec 2017 11:34

Available Files

Data and documentation bundle

Documentation

Read me

Downloads

data downloads and page views since this item was published

View more statistics

Altmetric

Edit item (login required)

Edit Item Edit Item