“Trust me, I am an economist.” A note on suspiciousness in laboratory experiments

• I systematically manipulate messages sent to prospective experimental subjects aimed at reducing their suspiciousness about possible deception.
• Including no-deception reminders in experimental instructions helps to reduce self-reported mistrust/suspiciousness.
• However, such a manipulation does not affect behavior.
• Manipulation of e-mails inviting to register in the subject pool has no impact at all.

This study investigates the effect of informing subjects that no deception will be used in a laboratory experiment. When implemented as a part of recruitment procedure, this information makes no difference in participants’ suspiciousness. Conversely, no-deception reminders placed in the instructions substantially reduce self-reported suspiciousness but not actual (trust-dependent) behavior.