Vidal's library
Title: Testing Ten Theories
Author: David Willer and Pamelal Emanuelson
Journal: Journal of Mathematical Sociology
Volume: 32
Number: 3
Pages: 165--203
Year: 2008
DOI: 10.1080/00222500802148743
Abstract: Using the most comprehensive data set now available, this investigation tests the precision of all exchange theories that now contend. Beyond precision, the investigation focuses on broad issues of effectiveness including consistency, parsimony, and whether the theories can be applied to structures larger than normally studied in the lab. Seeking greater parsimony, this investigation introduces a new model by combining parts of two contending theories. We find that all ten theories have scientific merit for all can predict with some effectiveness for the exchange structures experimentally investigated. Nevertheless, the ten vary in precision. Elementary Theory is the most precise. The new Expected-value Resistance model ranks second in precision and is the simplest. Both apply to large networks as well as the best of the other theories.

Cited by 4  -  Google Scholar

@Article{willer08a,
  author =	 {David Willer and Pamelal Emanuelson},
  title =	 {Testing Ten Theories},
  journal =	 {Journal of Mathematical Sociology},
  year =	 2008,
  volume =	 32,
  number =	 3,
  pages =	 {165--203},
  abstract =	 {Using the most comprehensive data set now available,
                  this investigation tests the precision of all
                  exchange theories that now contend. Beyond
                  precision, the investigation focuses on broad issues
                  of effectiveness including consistency, parsimony,
                  and whether the theories can be applied to
                  structures larger than normally studied in the
                  lab. Seeking greater parsimony, this investigation
                  introduces a new model by combining parts of two
                  contending theories. We find that all ten theories
                  have scientific merit for all can predict with some
                  effectiveness for the exchange structures
                  experimentally investigated. Nevertheless, the ten
                  vary in precision. Elementary Theory is the most
                  precise. The new Expected-value Resistance model
                  ranks second in precision and is the simplest. Both
                  apply to large networks as well as the best of the
                  other theories.},
  url = 	 {http://jmvidal.cse.sc.edu/library/willer08a.pdf},
  doi = 	 {10.1080/00222500802148743},
  cluster = 	 {10521572424198650808}

}
Last modified: Wed Mar 9 10:16:56 EST 2011