Question 4: When (and why) would we rely on a stranger?

Answer the following questions as best as possible given your understanding of the assigned reading(s). You are allowed to work with other students but please use your own words in your summary responses.

1. What are the central research questions of the study?

2. What game do the experimenters use to test trust? Why do they deliberately not choose to refer to it as a “trust game” in the experiment?

3. Explain (as briefly as possible) how the double-blind procedure in the experiment works to ensure complete anonymity of participants.

4. What are three reasons why it was beneficial for the experimenters to utilize a double-blind procedure in this particular experiment?

5. True or False: Providing subjects with a “social history” table increases the amount sent by the “trustors” and increases reciprocity observed in the experiment. Explain why or why not.

6. What are the primary results/findings of the experiment?

7. Complete the following sentences and briefly explain your thought process and/or motivation.

(a) If I were a subject placed in the position of “trustor” in this experiment, I would have sent $____ to the person in the other room. Why?

(b) If I were placed in the position of “trustee” in the experiment, and the “trustor” sent me $4.00, I would have sent $____ back to the trustor. Why?