Well Excuse Me! Replicating and Connecting Excuse-Seeking Behaviors

Authors

Beatriz Ahumada, University of Pittsburgh
Yufei Chen, University of Pittsburgh
Neeraja Gupta, University of Pittsburgh
Kelly Hyde, University of Pittsburgh
Marissa Lepper, University of Pittsburgh
Will Mathews, University of Pittsburgh
Neil Silveus, University of Pittsburgh
Lise Vesterlund, University of Pittsburgh
Taylor Weidman, University of Pittsburgh
Alistair Wilson, University of Pittsburgh
K. Pun Winichakul, University of PittsburghFollow
Liyang Zhou, University of Pittsburgh

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2022

Abstract

Excuse-seeking behavior that facilitates replacing altruistic choices with self-interested ones has been documented in several domains. In a laboratory study, we replicate three leading papers on this topic: Dana et al. (2007), and the use of information avoidance; Exley (2015), and the use of differential risk preferences; and Di Tella et al. (2015), and the use of motivated beliefs. The replications were conducted as part of a graduate course, attempting to embed one answer to the growing call for experimental replications within the pedagogic process. We fully replicate the simpler Dana et al. paper, and broadly replicate the core findings for the other two projects, though with reduced effect sizes and a failure to replicate on some secondary measures. Finally, we attempt to connect behaviors to facilitate the understanding of how each fit within the broader literature. However, we find no connections across domains.

Comments

Author’s submitted manuscript.

Recommended Citation

Ahumada, Beatriz; Chen, Yufei; Gupta, Neeraja; Hyde, Kelly; Lepper, Marissa; Mathews, Will; Silveus, Neil; Vesterlund, Lise; Weidman, Taylor; Wilson, Alistair; Winichakul, K. Pun; and Zhou, Liyang, "Well Excuse Me! Replicating and Connecting Excuse-Seeking Behaviors" (2022). Economics: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/eco_facpubs/103