{{ extends "global/Page.html" }} {{ block title }} Background and Task Instructions {{ endblock }} {{ block content }}

Primary Task


You and the other employees in your group will be completing the same task in which you will decode letters into numbers using an on-screen decoding key. Please note that the decoding key will change from each portion of each period to the next. A key for each portion of each period has already been determined using a random draw to assign numbers between 1-26 to each letter in the key, and all participants will receive the same key in each portion of each period.

You will have a chance to practice this task shortly. Each letter you accurately decode represents one completed work unit. Points will be awarded based on the number of accurately completed work units associated with each employee – that is, each employee’s total output. Each completed work unit will be worth 1 point. The more points you earn from this task, the more compensation you will earn for the study at a rate of 25 points = $1.00, as further explained below.


You will complete this task for four periods of 5 minutes each. Each period is independent of the other periods. Thus, your actions in any single period will not affect your outcomes in any other period. In each period, a timer will be provided so that you know how much time remains in the period as you work on your task. Your compensation for this part of the study will be based on one randomly selected period of the four periods you will complete.

Each five-minute period will be divided into two parts. In the first part, you will have 3 minutes to complete decoding work that will increase your total output for the period. In the second part of the period, you will make a decision about how to use the 2 minutes that remain. This time can be used, in any proportion you choose, to complete additional decoding work that either:

(1) increases your total output for the period, or
(2) increases the total output of another employee in your group (of your choosing) for the period.

If you choose to spend time working to increase the total output of another employee in your group, they will be informed that someone spent time working for their benefit (as well as how many work units you completed), but will never learn that it was you. Similarly, if another employee in your group chooses to spend time working to increase your total output, you will learn that another employee spent time working for your benefit (as well as how many work units they completed), but will never learn who it was.

This information will be provided at the end of each period, along with feedback about how many units you accurately completed during both parts of the period and what your total output was for the period.


The figure below summarizes the steps you will complete in each five-minute period of your task. As noted previously, you will complete four independent periods.


Consider the following independent examples:

1. Suppose in a particular period, a participant:

  - Completed 75 work units in part 1.
  - Spent 0.5 minutes (30 seconds) in part 2 completing work to increase their own total output and completed 10 work units in this time.
  - Spent 1.5 minutes (90 seconds) in part 2 completing work to increase another employee’s total output and completed 30 work units in this time.

Suppose also that another employee spent time working to increase the participant’s total output in part 2 of the period and completed 20 work units in that time. The participant’s total output for the period would be 105, as illustrated in the feedback below that the participant would receive at the end of the period:

Part 1 - Units completed
(1)		 Part 2 – Units completed toward your own total output
(2)		 Part 2 – Units completed toward another employee’s total output
(3)		 Units completed toward your output by other employee(s)
(4)		 Your total output
(1) + (2) + (4)
75 10
30

(This increased the other employee's output by 30 units)		 20 105

2. Suppose in a particular period, a participant:

  - Completed 80 work units in part 1.
  - Spent 2 minutes (120 seconds) in part 2 completing work to increase their own total output and completed 50 work units in this time.

Suppose also that no other employee spent time working to increase the participant’s total output in part 2 of the period. The participant’s total output for the period would be 130, as illustrated in the feedback below that the participant would receive at the end of the period:

Part 1 - Units completed
(1)		 Part 2 – Units completed toward your own total output
(2)		 Part 2 – Units completed toward another employee’s total output
(3)		 Units completed toward your output by other employee(s)
(4)		 Your total output
(1) + (2) + (4)

80
 
50
 
0
 
0
 
130
 

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