These may be reasonable heuristics, given how much research doesn’t replicate. But why do you consider this finding “politically useful”? The study says that this behavior happens regardless of political affiliation, so it’s not like those studies that say “<my political opponents> are <dumb / naive / racist>” and which then serve as ammunition against the other side.
I meant more like it slides neatly into someone’s political theory, and “increased political polarization” is a pretty common topic nowadays. I should probably come up with a better description for this.
Does it slide neatly into the political theory of increased political polarization, though? I feel like I could’ve told stories consistent with that theory for all conceivable study outcomes:
“As expected, people mostly choose to support the other sider rather than withholding money from their own side, probably because they think the latter is more effective at using the money.”
“As expected, given such an unpalatable choice, people essentially flip a coin.”
These may be reasonable heuristics, given how much research doesn’t replicate. But why do you consider this finding “politically useful”? The study says that this behavior happens regardless of political affiliation, so it’s not like those studies that say “<my political opponents> are <dumb / naive / racist>” and which then serve as ammunition against the other side.
Also, kudos to pre-registering your predictions!
I meant more like it slides neatly into someone’s political theory, and “increased political polarization” is a pretty common topic nowadays. I should probably come up with a better description for this.
Does it slide neatly into the political theory of increased political polarization, though? I feel like I could’ve told stories consistent with that theory for all conceivable study outcomes:
“As expected, people mostly choose to support the other sider rather than withholding money from their own side, probably because they think the latter is more effective at using the money.”
“As expected, given such an unpalatable choice, people essentially flip a coin.”
“As expected, <actual study result>.”