Using Mobile Phone Messaging as a Response Medium in Classroom Experiments

A major challenge in conducting classroom experiments for larger classes is the complexity of assembling responses and reporting feedback to students. The author demonstrates how mobile phone text messaging can be used to overcome the limitations of pencil-and-paper experiments without incurring the costs of full computerization. Students submit responses as text messages, which are down-loaded into a spreadsheet for automated analysis and by return messaging. The author presents examples of experiments that have been conducted successfully using text messaging as the response medium. These can be run in any room from which the instructor can access the internet and are designed to economize on both class time and effort of the instructor.

[1]  T. Brenner,et al.  On the Behavior of Proposers in Ultimatum Games , 2003 .

[2]  J. Horowitz,et al.  Fairness in Simple Bargaining Experiments , 1994 .

[3]  Caroline Elliott,et al.  Using a personal response system in economics teaching , 2003 .

[4]  J. Andreoni,et al.  Chapter 82 Partners versus Strangers: Random Rematching in Public Goods Experiments , 1998 .

[5]  A Bargaining Experiment to Motivate Discussion on Fairness , 2002 .

[6]  Sheryl B. Ball,et al.  Using Technology to Facilitate Active Learning in Economics Through Experiments , 2004 .

[7]  J. Andreoni,et al.  Testing subgame perfection apart from fairness in ultimatum games , 2006 .

[8]  R. Thaler.  The Ultimatum Game , 1988 .

[9]  Joseph M. Sulock.  The Free Rider and Voting Paradox “Games” , 1990 .

[10]  Judith Borreson Caruso,et al.  Students and Information Technology, 2005: Convenience, Connection, Control, and Learning , 2005 .

[11]  Lisa R. Anderson.  Public choice as an experimental science , 2001 .

[12]  Jane H. Leuthold.  A free rider experiment for the large class , 1993 .

[13]  Jonathan D. Cohen,et al.  The Neural Basis of Economic Decision-Making in the Ultimatum Game , 2003, Science.

[14]  James M. Walker,et al.  Computerized Laboratory Exercises for Microeconomics Education: Three Applications Motivated by Experimental Economics. , 1993 .

[15]  David M. Kreps,et al.  Rational cooperation in the finitely repeated prisoners' dilemma , 1982 .

[16]  James Andreoni,et al.  What Do Bargainers' Preferences Look Like? Experiments with a Convex Ultimatum Game , 2003 .

[17]  G. Harrison,et al.  Expectations and fairness in a simple bargaining experiment , 1996 .