Stefan Fassler
DARE Project: Collaboration as an Input in Production
Program(s) of Study: Economics
Project Supervisor: Karen Bernhardt-Walther
I am hopeful the project sheds new light on our understanding of same skill collaboration and offers a more nuanced and economically meaningful interpretation to collaboration benefit measurements.
Project Description:
The objective of this experimental study is to better understand how people cooperate to solve tasks. In our experiment we focus on the problem solving process. We ask subjects to solve tasks that are easily understood and do not require prior knowledge or experience, yet may be simple or difficult to solve. We measure performance both in terms of number of tasks solved correctly and in the time taken to completion. We determine the benefit of collaboration by comparing the performance of individual subjects with the performance when two subjects work together. Moreover, we record the subjects’ communication with each other and, using an eye tracker, we record their eye movement. Analyzing this data, we can describe the subject’s behavior and characterize the nature of their collaboration. Varying the task then allows us to describe the value different forms of collaboration contribute in different settings. The project draws on literature in management, economics, and psychology. We have a dual eye-tracking set-up piloted and ready to go. We are also currently exploring options to conduct online experiments. For interested students there is room to explore a range of interests and carve out and conduct independent projects as part of the overall research agenda.The Dean’s Award for Research Excellence (DARE) – Undergraduate enables our students to meaningfully engage in research projects supervised by LA&PS faculty members. Find out more about DARE.