Leiden University Student Repository

Völker, Claire (2022)

Social value orientation and accountability: the effect on the volunteer’s dilemma

Master thesis | Psychology (MSc)

This experimental study examines the effects of social value orientation and accountability on the choices made in a volunteer’s dilemma. This is a dilemma in which at least one person must sacrifice their time and effort for everyone to have the benefits. In the experiment I used 156 participants (N = 156). 88 of them were men. The participants in this study were divided in groups of three before being presented with the volunteer’s dilemma. A logistic regression analysis showed that being prosocial did not have a significant influence on participants’ choice to volunteer and that being held accountable for this choice did not either. This outcome is different from what would be expected based on existing literature. At the end of this thesis, theoretical and practical implications are discussed and suggestions for follow-up research are considered.

volunteer’s dilemma

social dilemma

social value orientation

accountability

Author

Völker, Claire

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Social and Organisational Psychology

Supervisors

Erik de Kwaadsteniet

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en