The Medium or the Message? Communication Relevance and Richness in Trust Games

Synthese, 2009

23 Pages Posted: 4 Oct 2009

See all articles by Cristina Bicchieri

Cristina Bicchieri

University of Pennsylvania

Azi Lev-On

Ariel University

Alex K. Chavez

University of Michigan at Ann Arbor - Department of Psychology

Date Written: October 2, 2009

Abstract

Subjects communicated prior to playing trust games; the richness of the communication media and the topics of conversation were manipulated. Communication richness failed to produce significant differences in first-mover investments. However, the topics of conversation made a significant difference: The amounts sent were considerably higher in the unrestricted communication conditions than in the restricted communication and no-communication conditions. Most importantly, we find that first-movers’ expectations of second-movers’ reciprocation are influenced by communication and strongly predict their levels of investment.

Keywords: Trust · Laboratory experiments, Communication, Internet, Web2, Social norms, Collaboration, Cooperation, Computer-mediated communication

Suggested Citation

Bicchieri, Cristina and Lev-On, Azi and Chavez, Alex K., The Medium or the Message? Communication Relevance and Richness in Trust Games (October 2, 2009). Synthese, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1481903

Cristina Bicchieri

University of Pennsylvania ( email )

Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States
215-898-5820 (Phone)

Azi Lev-On (Contact Author)

Ariel University ( email )

Ariel, 40700
Israel

HOME PAGE: http://www.azilevon.com

Alex K. Chavez

University of Michigan at Ann Arbor - Department of Psychology ( email )

Ann Arbor, MI 48109
United States

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