Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026

08:38
A System for Tracking the Dynamics of Social Preference Behavior in Small Rodents
Published on: November 21, 2019
8.2K
Dynamics in charity donation decisions: Insights from a large longitudinal data set
Marijke C Leliveld1, Hans Risselada1
1Department of Marketing, University of Groningen, Nettelbosje 2, 9747 AE Groningen, Netherlands.
Science Advances
|September 27, 2017
Summary
Most individuals keep survey earnings, but "Switchers" who donate show complex decision dynamics. Donation likelihood increases after keeping money, influenced by earnings, and they may keep money later to compensate for prior donations.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Psychology of Philanthropy
Background:
- Extensive research exists on charitable giving drivers.
- Limited understanding of longitudinal individual donation decision-making dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the longitudinal dynamics of individual donation decisions.
- To investigate factors influencing consistent vs. switching donation behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of unique dataset: ~300,000 real donation decisions.
- ~20,000 individuals over 10 months.
- Choice: Keep or donate survey compensation (€0.67 avg).
Main Results:
- 89% of participants consistently kept the money.
- Switchers exhibit moral consistency but change decisions.
- Donation likelihood increases after keeping money; influenced by stakes.
- Donors may keep money later (moral compensation) if future earnings are higher.
Conclusions:
- First longitudinal data on individual donation decisions.
- Reveals nuanced decision-maker profiles and donation dynamics.
- Highlights interplay of moral consistency, situational factors, and compensation in giving.
Related Concept Videos
Longitudinal Studies
563
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
563
Longitudinal Research
13.5K
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
13.5K
Egoism and Altruism
93.5K
Voluntary behavior with the intent to help other people is called prosocial behavior. Why do people help other people? Is personal benefit such as feeling good about oneself the only reason people help one another?
93.5K
Altruism
47.8K
Altruistic behaviors are “unselfish” behaviors—those that help another individual at the expense of the individual carrying out the behavior. Despite the negative consequences for the altruistic animal, these behaviors are thought to have evolved for several reasons.
47.8K
Cross-Sectional Research
12.7K
In cross-sectional research, a researcher compares multiple segments of the population at the same time. If they were interested in people's dietary habits, the researcher might directly compare different groups of people by age. Instead of following a group of people for 20 years to see how their dietary habits changed from decade to decade, the researcher would study a group of 20-year-old individuals and compare them to a group of 30-year-old individuals and a group of 40-year-old...
12.7K
Observational Studies
11.2K
Observational studies are a type of analytical study where researchers observe events without any interventions. In other words, the researcher does not influence the response variable or the experiment's outcome.
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One...
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One...
11.2K

