Measuring social preferences

Michalis Drouvelis

Chapter 10 in Handbook of Experimental Methods in the Social Sciences, 2026, pp 382-402 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Laboratory experiments have been crucial for social and behavioral sciences, improving our understanding of human prosocial behavior. Existing research shows that most individuals do exhibit social preferences, even without future material benefits, while only a minority acts purely out of self-interest. This chapter offers a taxonomy of 17 experimental games that have routinely been used in the literature to measure social preferences and highlights key insights from behavioral economics research. These paradigms have refined economic theories and inspired models that account for social preferences, bridging economics with other behavioral sciences and influencing behavioral policy.

Keywords: Laboratory Experiments; Social Preferences; Bargaining; Trust; Cooperation; Punishment And Reward Opportunities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035312627
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