This thesis investigates differences between cultures concerning trust and trustworthiness among the participants of the experiment. It compares data from a collectivism country like India with a more individualistic country like the United States.
Situations like returning money borrowed from a friend, receiving the planned and paid medical treatment in a hospital, being a motivated employee as claimed in the interview, spending money for a project as promised at the charity or choosing a reliable supply firm are examples where trustworthiness (TWN) might occur. Trust is seen as a fundamental requirement of a growing and successful economy; hence, trustworthiness is also an indispensable part. Some might claim that trustworthiness comes from trust, while others, like Hardin for example, go a step further and see trustworthiness as the reason for trusting. Others, like Chauduri and Gangadharan, consider trustworthiness more important than trust. Hence, additional knowledge about what impacts trustworthiness, could be helpful in peoples’ everyday life as well as in the economy.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction and motivation
- Theoretical background
- Trustworthiness
- Behavioural economics
- Trust Game
- Distinction between TWN and Reciprocity
- Relevance of TWN in group decisions across cultures
- Culture
- Measurement of Culture - Overview
- The IND/COL - Scale
- Relation between TWN and culture
- Trustworthiness
- The experiment
- The experimental design
- Trust Game incentives
- Annotations
- Results
- The sample
- Results IND/COL-Scale
- Results TWN
- Hypotheses
- Discussion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This thesis aims to explore the relationship between collectivism and individualism, trust, and trustworthiness when managing group assets. It investigates whether cultural background influences trust and trustworthiness in group decision-making. The research analyzes the impact on trustworthiness when an individual's decision affects their own payoff or the payoff of other group members.
- Trustworthiness and its influence on economic decisions
- Cultural differences in decision-making, particularly individualism and collectivism
- The role of trust and trustworthiness in managing group assets
- The impact of cultural background on trust and trustworthiness
- The Trust Game as a tool to measure trust and trustworthiness
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction and Motivation: This chapter introduces the concept of trustworthiness and its importance in economic decision-making. It outlines the research question and the specific objectives of the thesis, highlighting the focus on understanding the influence of collectivism and individualism on trust and trustworthiness in group asset management.
- Theoretical Background: This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the theoretical framework underpinning the research. It delves into the concepts of trustworthiness, behavioral economics, and the Trust Game. The chapter also explores the role of culture, particularly the distinction between individualism and collectivism, in influencing trust and trustworthiness.
- The Experiment: This chapter details the experimental design and methodology employed in the research. It outlines the Trust Game incentives and the specific annotations used to collect data. The chapter provides a clear explanation of the procedures and data collection methods used to investigate the research question.
- Results: This chapter presents the findings of the experiment, analyzing the data collected. It examines the sample characteristics, the results of the IND/COL-Scale (measuring individualism and collectivism), and the results related to trustworthiness. The chapter also outlines the hypotheses tested and the evidence found to support or refute them.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The research focuses on the key terms of trust, trustworthiness, collectivism, individualism, group decision-making, cultural differences, the Trust Game, and economic decision-making. This research aims to uncover the relationship between cultural background, trust, and trustworthiness, particularly in the context of managing group assets. By utilizing the Trust Game, the study seeks to provide insights into the factors that influence individual behavior and decision-making within different cultural contexts.
- Quote paper
- Elvira Tafarrohi (Author), 2015, The influence of collectivism on trustworthiness when managing the assets of a group, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/430949
