Effects of uncertainty and communication on cooperation in commons dilemmas
Date
2009-11-23T22:08:08Z
Authors
Bearden, Anomi Grace
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Abstract
A sample of 55 female and 41 male university students (N = 96) enrolled in introductory psychology courses participated in a 2 by 2 (uncertainty by communication) factorial between-subjects ANCOVA design investigating the independent and joint effects of uncertainty and communication on cooperation rates in a simulated commons dilemma. Participants' self-efficacy and risk perceptions (pertaining to resource management) were also examined as covariates to investigate each of their relations to cooperation rates. Participants were randomly divided into groups of three and "fished" in a computer simulation of ocean fishing (FISH 3.1), and completed a short questionnaire. As predicted, the presence of group communication was associated with higher rates of cooperation; the presence of uncertainty was associated with lower cooperation rates; and higher levels of resource management self-efficacy were associated with higher cooperation rates. The prediction that the detrimental effect of uncertainty would be more pronounced when there is no communication present received partial support: a marginally significant interaction was found between communication and uncertainty. Contrary to expectations, higher levels of resource management risk perception were associated with lower cooperation rates. Limitations of the current investigation are outlined and possible directions for future research are discussed.
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Keywords
cooperativeness, uncertainty