Week #2 - Crafting the Path to Understanding Altruism

This week’s progress involved a deeper dive into the methodology for my research on altruism in financial decisions. Recognizing the importance of a well-structured survey, I decided on a comprehensive approach that entails collecting data through a survey to be distributed on the platform Prolific. This decision was informed by a goal to achieve a sample size of 200-300 participants, which is deemed sufficient for the predictive accuracy of machine learning analysis.

After establishing an account on Prolific, I explored the platform’s capabilities and determined that linking a Google Form to gather responses would be the most effective strategy. This approach allows for the inclusion of a broader range of questions, targeting key areas such as demographics, financial attitudes, behaviors, and specifically, participants’ willingness to donate.

In the course of my literature review, I realized I had overlooked a significant aspect of donation behavior: the preference for anonymity. This insight didn’t emerge until after delving into various articles and journals on related research. Recognizing the importance of this factor, I felt compelled to include a question about anonymity preferences in the survey. This addition is crucial for understanding how the prospect of social recognition or the preference for privacy influences individuals’ willingness to donate, potentially unveiling another layer of complexity in the motivations behind altruistic actions.

In preparation for data collection, I refined the survey to encompass 10-15 questions, balancing depth with participant convenience. This survey design is expected to take 2-3 minutes to complete. Next week, I anticipate moving into the next phase of this project, where the focus will shift towards collecting and analyzing the data.