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On reminder effects, drop-outs and dominance: evidence from an online experiment on charitable giving

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Daniel ZizzoORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

We present the results of an experiment that (a) shows the usefulness of screening out drop-outs and (b) tests whether different methods of payment and reminder intervals affect charitable giving. Following a lab session, participants could make online donations to charity for a total duration of three months. Our procedure justifying the exclusion of drop-outs consists in requiring participants to collect payments in person flexibly and as known in advance and as highlighted to them later. Our interpretation is that participants who failed to collect their positive payments under these circumstances are likely not to satisfy dominance. If we restrict the sample to subjects who did not drop out, but not otherwise, reminders significantly increase the overall amount of charitable giving. We also find that weekly reminders are no more effective than monthly reminders in increasing charitable giving, and that, in our three months duration experiment, standing orders do not increase giving relative to one-off donations.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Sonntag A, Zizzo DJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: PLoS One

Year: 2015

Volume: 10

Issue: 8

Online publication date: 07/08/2015

Acceptance date: 14/07/2015

Date deposited: 14/08/2015

ISSN (electronic): 1932-6203

Publisher: Public Library of Science

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0134705

DOI: 0.1371/journal.pone.0134705

Notes: APC to be paid by Newcastle University


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
ES/K002201/1Economic and Social Research Council
ES/K002201/1

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