Experimental studies on the role of communication, reciprocity and media in cooperation in large groups


Prof. Dr. Weimann*

Duration: 1997 - 1999

The project is intended to contribute to solving cooperation problems. The focus is on the economic significance of the problem of social dilemmas. Dilemma situations are the core of serious allocation problems. A characteristic feature is the fact that large groups are affected. This fact has hardly been taken into account in the literature so far. Specifically, two problem complexes are to be dealt with:

1] Recently, the thesis has been discussed that reciprocity is an essential determinant of individual behaviour in dictatorial and ultimatum games. It will be examined whether this thesis can be supported, whether a relationship to the cooperation problem can be established, and whether reciprocity also plays a role in large groups.

2] In view of the experimental findings, the importance of face-to-face communication for coping with cooperation problems in small groups is undoubted. In large groups, however, communication is generally not bidirectional and is necessarily media-mediated. Whether this form of communication can have the same effect as conversation in a small group is not yet known. It will therefore be examined how the effect of communication depends on the form of communication. At the same time, this opens up a new approach to media impact research.


* Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

Funding: DFG, Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs Saxony-Anhalt

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