TY - JOUR

T1 - Measuring social norms in economics

T2 - Why it is important and how it is done

AU - Nosenzo, Daniele

AU - Görges, Luise

PY - 2021/2/13

Y1 - 2021/2/13

N2 - Experimental economics offers new tools for the measurement of social norms. In this article, we argue that these advances have the potential to promote our understanding of human behavior in fundamental ways, by expanding our knowledge beyond what we learn by simply observing human behavior. We highlight how these advancements can inform not only economic and social theory, but also policymaking. We then describe and critically assess three approaches used in economics to measure social norms. We conclude our overview with a list of recommendations to help empirical researchers choose among the different tools, depending on the nature and constraints of their research projects.

AB - Experimental economics offers new tools for the measurement of social norms. In this article, we argue that these advances have the potential to promote our understanding of human behavior in fundamental ways, by expanding our knowledge beyond what we learn by simply observing human behavior. We highlight how these advancements can inform not only economic and social theory, but also policymaking. We then describe and critically assess three approaches used in economics to measure social norms. We conclude our overview with a list of recommendations to help empirical researchers choose among the different tools, depending on the nature and constraints of their research projects.

KW - Experimental economics

KW - Injunctive norms

KW - Measuring norms

KW - Second-order beliefs

KW - Social appropriateness

KW - Social norms

KW - Economics

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85101421109&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1515/auk-2020-0012

DO - 10.1515/auk-2020-0012

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85101421109

VL - 42

SP - 285

EP - 312

JO - Analyse und Kritik

JF - Analyse und Kritik

SN - 0171-5860

IS - 2

ER -