Constructing gender differences in the economics lab

We study the effects of experimental design on male and female behavior in a dictator game. Following social identity theory we investigate how experimental procedure may affect outcome through gender priming, i.e. the activation of gender stereotypes specifying that women behave altruistically and men egoistically. We prime subjects by asking them to indicate their gender in a questionnaire, before playing the game. In our experiment, such gender priming is effective (i.e. creates a gender difference in generosity) in gender-mixed environments, but not in single-sex environments. Further, men are more sensitive to priming than women are.

► We study how experimental design affects male and female dictator-game behavior. ► We investigate if experimental procedure affects outcome through gender priming. ► Priming could activate gender stereotypes of altruistic women and egoistic men. ► We find that in gender-mixed environments, gender priming makes men less generous. ► We also find that men are more sensitive to priming than women are.