Gender- and Nationality-based Intergroup Bias among German and International Students

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Literature Review

2.1. Ultimatum Game

2.2. Ingroup Favoritism and Outgroup Discrimination

2.3. Explanatory Factors of Intergroup Bias

2.3.1. Social Preferences, Fairness, Altruism, and Other-Regarding Behavior

2.2.2. Gender and Nationality

2.3.3. Social Distance

3. Experimental Design and Procedure

3.1. Experimental Design

3.1.1. Groups

3.1.2. Phase 1: Ultimatum Game as Player B

3.1.3. Phase 2: Ultimatum Game as Player A

3.2. Experimental Procedure

4. Results

4.1. Descriptive Statistics

4.2. Hypothesis Testing

4.2.1. Between-Groups Analysis

4.2.2. Regression Analysis

5. Discussion and Limitations

6. Conclusion

Objectives and Research Themes

This thesis investigates whether students at Leuphana University exhibit gender- and nationality-based intergroup bias through an experimental economics approach using the Ultimatum Game. The research aims to identify if participants demonstrate ingroup favoritism or outgroup discrimination when interacting with peers from different social categories, while accounting for factors such as identification levels, age, and living situation.

• Experimental analysis of gender-based behavioral tendencies.
• Investigation of nationality-based discrimination in student populations.
• Assessment of ingroup favoritism versus outgroup discrimination.
• Evaluation of identification preferences and social distance influences.
• Validation of Ultimatum Game outcomes in an online academic environment.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: Outlines the research focus on intergroup bias among students, defining key concepts like ingroup favoritism and outgroup discrimination within the context of game theory.

2. Literature Review: Provides a comprehensive overview of existing economic studies regarding the Ultimatum Game, social identity theory, and explanatory factors such as fairness, gender, and nationality.

3. Experimental Design and Procedure: Details the methodology, including the 2x2 experimental design, group composition, and the two-phase Ultimatum Game structure conducted online.

4. Results: Presents the statistical findings, including descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing through regression analysis to evaluate bias patterns among different student groups.

5. Discussion and Limitations: Interprets the empirical results, discusses potential experimenter demand effects, and reflects on the limitations inherent in the online experimental setup.

6. Conclusion: Summarizes the study’s findings, noting that while gender bias was not found, nationality-based discrimination was observed among international participants.

Keywords

Intergroup bias, Ultimatum Game, Ingroup Favoritism, Outgroup Discrimination, Social Identity, Experimental Economics, Gender, Nationality, Fairness, Altruism, Social Preferences, Student Behavior, Decision-making, Leuphana University, Allocation Game.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this thesis?

The thesis investigates whether students at Leuphana University display bias based on gender or nationality when participating in economic decision-making tasks.

What are the primary thematic areas explored?

The work focuses on intergroup bias, specifically examining ingroup favoritism and outgroup discrimination through the lens of behavioral economics.

What is the primary research goal?

The goal is to determine if students favor members of their own group (ingroup) or discriminate against those from other groups (outgroup) in an Ultimatum Game scenario.

Which scientific methodology is utilized?

The author employs an online experimental design using a 2x2 structure, specifically the Ultimatum Game, to collect decision data from students.

What is covered in the main body of the work?

The main body covers a literature review on social identity and economic games, detailed experimental procedures, descriptive statistics, and rigorous hypothesis testing via regression analysis.

Which keywords define the scope of the research?

Key terms include intergroup bias, Ultimatum Game, ingroup favoritism, social identity, experimental economics, and student decision-making.

How did nationality influence the results?

The results showed that international participants were more likely to discriminate against German participants in their proposals, while no similar bias was found among German participants.

Was there evidence of gender-based bias?

No, the regression analysis and statistical tests concluded that students at the university did not express significant gender-based intergroup bias.

How did identification levels affect behavior?

The analysis revealed that the self-reported level of identification with an ingroup had no significant impact on a participant's choices or level of discrimination.