POSITIONAL ORDER AND GROUP-SIZE EFFECTS IN RESOURCE DILEMMAS WITH UNCERTAIN RESOURCES

We report the results of three experiments in which groups of players share a common resource pool whose size is a random variable with a co mmonly known distribution. We study a new information structure-called the positional order protocol-under which requests are made in an exo genously determined and commonly known order without disclosing the re quests of previous players in the sequence. Mean individual requests u nder this protocol of play are compared with data gathered under the m ore familiar simultaneous protocol (simultaneously made requests) and sequential protocol (sequentially made requests with full disclosure o f previous requests). Previously reported effects of the resource unce rtainty on individual requests obtained under the simultaneous and seq uential protocols are generalized across different group sizes. In con trast to the game-theoretical prediction, which does not distinguish b etween the simultaneous and positional order protocols, mean individua l requests and position in the sequence are highly and significantly c orrelated. We conclude that position effects can be induced by tempora l priority, even in the absence of differential information. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.