PRISONER'S DILEMMA (version A)


In this experiment, you will be either Player X or Player Y. You will be randomly and anonymously matched with a player of the other type (so half the class plays as Player X and the other half plays as Player Y). You will not know the other player’s decision until after you make your decision, and the other player will not know your decision until after you’ve made it. In other words, you both make your decisions simultaneously without knowing the decision that the other person is making. You will never know the identity of person with whom you are paired and this person will never know your identity.

The game you will play is the same as the game below (without the words "extra credit points"). Each person in the class can choose one of two possible actions: C or S. How many extra credit points you earn in this experiment depends on the decision you make and the decision made by the person with whom you are paired.



If you are Player X, you must choose either "C" or "S" by clicking on your choice on the game table. If you choose "C" and Player Y chooses "C," you each receive 1 extra credit point, as indicated in the lower right-hand box. If you choose "S" and Player Y chooses "C," you receive 0 points and Player Y receives 5 points (upper right-hand box). If you choose "C" and Player Y chooses "S," you receive 5 points and Player Y receives 0 points (lower left-hand box). If you choose "S" and Player Y chooses "S," you each receive 2.5 extra credit points (upper left-hand box).

If you are Player Y, you must choose either "C" or "S" by clicking on your choice on the game table. If you choose "C" and Player X chooses "C," you each receive 1 extra credit point, as indicated in the lower right-hand box. If you choose "S" and Player X chooses "C," you receive 0 points and Player X receives 5 points (lower left-hand box). If you choose "C" and Player X chooses "S," you receive 5 points and Player X receives 0 points (upper right-hand box). If you choose "S" and Player X chooses "S," you each receive 2.5 extra credit points (upper left-hand box).

On your screen will be text indicating whether you are a Player X or a Player Y.