Research Interests
Human Cognition and Decision Making
Behavioural and Experimental Economics
Health Economics - practitioner and patient choices and market dynamics
Applied micro-econometrics
Application of Machine Learning in Economics & Simulation Modelling
Publications
Stamos, A., McLaughlin, J., Bruyneel, S., & Dewitte, S. (2021). A preregistered study of the relationship between childhood socioeconomic background, life history strategies and conformity. Journal of Research in Personality, 92, 104095. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2021.104095
Abstract: We conducted a high powered pre-registered study to investigate the relationship between childhood socioeconomic status, the adoption of different life history strategies and conformity. Contrary to our expectation we found no direct relationship between childhood socioeconomic background and conformity. However, we discovered a significant association between life history strategies and conformity. People who adopt fast (slow) life history strategies conform less (more) to social suggestions. Furthermore, we found a relationship between childhood socioeconomic background and life history strategies, with people from low (high) childhood socioeconomic backgrounds adopting fast (slow) life history strategies.
E. Botchway, J. McLaughlin, I. Van der Beken, J. Verpooten, & S. Dewitte (2025). "Loyalty Programs in Second-Hand Markets Stimulate Demand but May Interfere With Supply." Circular Economy and Sustainability .
Abstract: This study investigates a specific attribute of the circular economy, the direct reuse of old products, and the use of the traditional marketing mechanism of loyalty programs of stimulating this attribute. We conducted two studies into common (clothing) and uncommon (electronics) second-hand markets, testing the effectiveness of rewarding purchases and donations in stimulating the (intended) demand and supply in second-hand stores. Our findings indicate the effectiveness of various loyalty programs in stimulating the intention to repurchase in second-hand stores. We also identify that a loyalty program, which rewards purchases and donations, can effectively stimulate the supply to second-hand stores, but only for customers with a low donation history. However, for those with a substantial donation history, loyalty programs that rewards donations reduce their donation intentions.
Gauriot, R., Liu, Y., McLaughlin, J., & Miller, J. B. (2024). A Computational reproduction of “Intrinsic Information Preferences and Skewness” by Masatlioglu, Orhun and Raymond (2023). https://hdl.handle.net/10419/303902.
Abstract: Masatlioglu et al. (2023) show a strong intrinsic preference for positively skewed information over negatively skewed information through three laboratory and two field experiments. Using the provided replication package, we successfully computationally reproduce these results. Additionally, we test the robustness of the findings by employing alternative statistical tests, which confirmed the original conclusions. We also make minor comments about the paper that may be useful to researchers building on Masatlioglu et al. (2023)'s work.
Work in Progress
McLaughlin, J. and Mortimer, D. (2024). The Predictive Accuracy of Quantum Decision Theory for Human Decision-Making. Submitted and in journal review process.
Abstract: Our study evaluates the predictive validity of Quantum Decision Theory (QDT) in comparison to a variety of utility models from the decision literature. QDT can be considered a generalised stochastic decision theory; flexibly characterising both deterministic and stochastic components in human decision-making. Classic decision theories in economics can be specified for the rational component, while the parametrised stochastic variable is specified to represent the individual and contextual biases influencing a decision when it is made. We use the previously established large experimental choice dataset choice13k and machine learning to compare the performance of QDT and classic models for predicting behaviour. Consistent with recent studies, we find that models capturing both between-individual and between-context heterogeneity perform better than those that do not capture both sources of variation; with a ‘mixture of theories’ model performing best of all. We demonstrate a further increase in prediction accuracy when our parametrised model of QDT is applied to classic decision theories and when our QDT model contributes to the ‘mixture of theories’ model, however, the magnitude of the improvement is minimal, constrained by the contextual data available to include in the modelling.
McLaughlin, J., Mortimer, D. & Dewitte, S. Intrinsic Task Interest & Pro-Social Outcome Interest: Experimental Evidence of Incentive Compatibility. In development.
Abstract: We explore the motivational dynamics of incentives for pro-social activity. Using a novel experimental approach we separate intrinsic task interest and pro-social outcome interest (i.e., mission belief) and explore to what extent either are extrinsic incentive compatible. Current literature has concentrated on identifying the source of intrinsic motivation, such as altruism or warm-glow, and exploring whether intrinsic motives are crowded out by extrinsic incentives, yielding mixed findings. Theoretical work in this space has laid a foundation for assessing principal and agent motives and the outcomes of incentives, monetary or status, in mission orientated workplaces. We expand this to an empirical analysis and explore the interaction of these incentives with the two types of intrinsic motives, providing clarity to the ambiguous results in the literature with a robust dataset of real effort outcomes.
McLaughlin, J. and Mortimer, D. Brushing up on Preferences: Matching in a Mixed Private-Public Dental Market. In development.
Abstract: Dental markets in many developed countries are predominantly private, whilst other healthcare services in the same countries are mixed public-private markets. The transition from a private market to mixed is understudied, particularly the modelling of agent behaviours. Given the underutilisation of dental services in the Australian market and the affordability barriers present, we examine if the addition of dental services to Medicare will address the market inefficiencies. We develop a three-stage incentivised experiment to replicate the shift of the private dental market to mixed public-private. We take a novel approach, using two-sided matching market algorithms we propose that the market shift will result in more stable market clearing matches and increased consumer welfare. This is the first application of matching market algorithms to the dental market and this study further addresses gaps within the literature for modelling the equilibria of mixed private-public markets. Moreover, it addresses current policy considerations of publicly funding adult dental care by policy-makers in countries such as Australia and the United States of America.
Other
McLaughlin, J. (2020). Master Thesis: Heuristics in Strategic Decision Making. Unpublished Manuscript.
Abstract: The adaptive use of heuristics by individuals of various strategic reasoning levels is identified, given the applicable environmental characteristics. An experiment is developed utilising the framework of ring games, in which the game design is adapted to identify reasoning levels as well as specific heuristic profiles. Individual’s strategic reasoning levels are identified prior to evidencing their strategies shift to heuristic rules when time pressure is applied. Significant evidence of strategy shift to heuristic use is found for individuals within each strategic reasoning level. Furthermore, various patterns of strategy shift between strategic reasoning levels are highlighted, as are various information search patterns which are identified by mouse-tracking. Finally, an extended cognitive reflection test (CRT), as a measure of cognitive ability, identifies significant gender differences, however, no significant correlation is found between the strategic reasoning levels and the CRT results.