Exploring cooperation and competition.pdf (679.57 kB)
Exploring cooperation and competition in the Centipede game through verbal protocol analysis
journal contribution
posted on 2016-06-14, 12:41 authored by Eva M. Krockow, Andrew M. Colman, Briony D. PulfordThe Centipede game is an abstract model of reciprocal relationships where two individuals alternate in helping each other at relatively small personal cost. Whereas mutual cooperation can benefit both individuals in the long run, a paradoxical but logically compelling backward induction argument shows that cooperation is irrational. Empirical studies have reported reliable deviations from the non-cooperative backward induction solution, but their exclusively quantitative methods allow only a limited range of predefined motives to be explored. Our study uses verbal (‘think aloud’) protocols and qualitative data analysis to identify motives for cooperation in the Centipede game. The results provide little evidence for sophisticated backward induction reasoning. Instead, a wide range of motives emerged, their relative saliences varying according to the stage of the game. Activity bias affected decisions mainly at the beginning of the game, whereas cooperative and altruistic social value orientations most frequently accounted for cooperation towards its natural end.
History
Citation
European Journal of Social Psychology, 2016, 46 (6), pp. 746–761Author affiliation
/Organisation/COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND PSYCHOLOGY/MBSP Non-Medical Departments/Neuroscience, Psychology and BehaviourVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Published in
European Journal of Social PsychologyPublisher
Wileyissn
0046-2772eissn
1099-0992Acceptance date
2016-05-29Copyright date
2016Available date
2017-07-11Publisher DOI
Publisher version
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejsp.2226/abstractNotes
The file associated with this record is under a 12-month embargo from publication in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. The full text may be available through the publisher links provided above.Language
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