Rosario Experimental and Behavioral Economics Lab (REBEL)

ROSARIO EXPERIMENTAL AND BEHAVIORA E ECONOMICS LAB (REBEL)

The Experimental Economics Laboratory at Universidad del Rosario is a physical space for conducting research on human behavior, of interest to social scientists and policymakers, making it applicable in countless ways. In these experiments, participants engage in decision-making tasks designed to test theories about human behavior and/or the effectiveness of public policies.

Universidad del Rosario established the first Experimental Economics Laboratory in Colombia and South America in 2010, and today, it hosts the largest experimental economics group in Latin America. The team in charge organizes the most important (and longest-running) experimental economics conference in Latin America, and, in collaboration with other universities in Bogotá, co-organizes a monthly seminar on experimental topics.

Laboratorio de Finanzas Universidad del Rosario

FACILITIES

Currently, REBEL has two physical laboratories: the first laboratory is in the University's Cloister, at Calle 12C # 6-25, in room 207 of CASUR, and is equipped with 30 workstations. The second is a brand-new laboratory outside the campus. It is conveniently located in the Suramericana Building (Avenida Jiménez # 8A-49), very close to the city center. It has 50 workstations in a split configuration (20+30), which allows for two experimental sessions to be conducted simultaneously. It also features a separate monitoring area, a reception area, equipment for double-blind payments, and two interview rooms with workstations equipped with biometric measurements (Eye-tracking, Facial Reader, and GSR measurement technology). Finally, REBEL is also equipped with a Mobile Laboratory composed of 30 tablets, ideal for field experiments.

Our participant database

REBEL maintains a comprehensive database of available subjects. The primary subgroup of participants consists of university students (from Universidad del Rosario and various other institutions), but it also includes a representative sample of formal and informal workers.
Participants receive compensation of 12,000 COP (approximately 3 USD) for attending the experimental session. During the session, they can increase their earnings based on the decisions they make in the experiment. These decisions can be influenced by individual choices, the decisions of other participants, as well as random factors. On average, we guarantee that participants will earn a total of 15 USD per hour, accounting for both the base compensation and the additional earning opportunities during the session.

OUR TEAM - FACULTY MEMBERS

Julia Seither Afonso

Director of the REBEL Laboratory and Principal Career Professor

Mariana Blanco

Associate Professor

Diego Aycinena

Associate Professor

César Mantilla

Associate Professor

Santiago Sautua

Assistant Professor

Silvia López Guzman

Assistant Professor, School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Laboratory Manager

Yaritza Zambrano

Coordinadora Laboratorio Rebel

POST-DOCS, GRADUATE STUDENTS AND RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Ferley Rincón

Ph.D. Student in Economics
Faculty of Economics, Universidad del Rosario

Nazly López

Ph.D. Student in Economics
Faculty of Economics, Universidad del Rosario

Sebastián Villareal

Young Researcher and Master's Student in Economics
Faculty of Economics, Universidad del Rosario

INFORMATION FOR RESEARCHERS: STEPS TO HIRE OUR SERVICES

1. Submit Your Expression of Interest

Please email us at rebel@urosario.edu.co, providing details about your experiment, and we will guide you through the rest of the process. In general, we would appreciate it if you could share information regarding the required number of sessions, participants, and any additional services you may need (e.g., translation, programming, data cleaning, or research assistance).

2. Forms

After receiving your expression of interest, we will request the submission of the necessary forms to officially process your experiment:

Experimental Protocol (please refer to the instructions below).

We conduct both computer-based and paper-based experiments. Computer-based experiments can be programmed in oTree or zTree. Paper-based experiments may incur additional charges depending on the number of monitors required and the complexity of manual calculations.

For experiments conducted in oTree or zTree, screenshots of the entire experiment must be submitted in a .doc or .pdf file, with one screenshot per page. For experiments with multiple identical rounds, provide screenshots from a single round.

For paper-based experiments, the researcher must submit the experimental protocol, decision sheets, and any other relevant materials.
Ethics Committee Authorization Checklist (please refer to the instructions below).

Your submission of the experimental protocol must be accompanied by IRB approval from the host institution of at least one of the researchers involved in the project. If the project does not have IRB approval, we will discuss the possibility of submitting the study to the Ethics Committee in Social Sciences at Universidad del Rosario. Please note that this procedure may delay the execution of the experiment by 3-4 weeks. This process will be faster if you already have approval from your home institution's ethics committee.

2.1 Pilots and dry runs

We conduct, without exception, at least one dry run session and one pilot session for each submitted project. Once we confirm that the protocol is technically ready, we will proceed with the experimental sessions.

2.2 Execution of the Experiment

After a successful pilot, we will begin the experimental sessions. Data will be sent immediately after the session or according to the agreed-upon data cleaning and delivery schedule. Researchers may join us during the execution of the experiment, and we will make every effort to provide office space during the visit.

3. Pilotos y dry runs

Ejecutamos, sin excepción, al menos una sesión de dry run y una sesión piloto para cada proyecto enviado. Una vez que confirmemos que el protocolo está técnicamente listo procederemos a ejecutar las sesiones experimentales.

4. Ejecución del experimento

Luego de que el piloto haya sido exitoso, comenzaremos las sesiones experimentales. Los datos se enviarán justo después de la sesión, o según acuerdo de limpieza y entrega de datos. Los investigadores pueden unirse a nosotros durante la ejecución del experimento, haremos todo lo posible para proporcionar espacio de oficina durante la visita.

Frequently Asked Questions-FAQ

What is an experiment?

An experiment is part of a research project on human behavior, where the researcher aims to identify behavioral patterns that are of interest to economic theory or public policy design.

Is it true that participants in an experiment receive money?

Yes, it is true. Each participant receives payment either in cash or to their bank account, depending on the experiment. The amount of the payment depends on the decisions made by the participant during the experiment and, in some cases, on the decisions made by other participants in the same experiment. All participants receive a minimum payment of COP 12,000.

What do you need to do during an experiment?

Participants in an experiment will need to make decisions on a computer, mobile device, or paper.

What kind of decisions will I need to make?

The decisions are simple. For example, you might need to choose between different scenarios involving various amounts of money or decide how to distribute a fixed amount of money between yourself and another participant. No knowledge of economics is required to participate. You just need to be yourself.

What happens in a typical session?

At the beginning of the session, all participants receive instructions explaining the situation in which they need to make their decisions. After reading the instructions, you will be asked to make your decision. At the end of the session, you will be asked to fill out and sign a receipt (or a payment form, if the payment is to your bank account), and you will be paid the amount you have earned (immediately if in cash, or within a maximum of 3 business days if to your account). ALL DECISIONS AND PAYMENTS ARE ANONYMOUS AND CONFIDENTIAL.

Are there “correct answers”?

No, there are not. An experiment is not a test. There are no right or wrong answers. You just need to be yourself.

How are my decisions used in the research?

Your decisions will never be associated with your name, ensuring anonymity. The experiment is designed so that researchers cannot link the decisions to the individuals who participated in the experiment. All decisions collected during the experiment are aggregated and analyzed by the researchers.

How long does an experiment last?

The duration of an experimental session varies depending on the type of experiment. Typically, a session lasts between 45 and 90 minutes, but some experiments may take up to 2 hours. The expected duration of the experimental session is provided in the email announcing the specific day and time of the experiment. Please note that longer sessions generally have higher average payments.

What do I need to do to participate in an experiment?

If you are interested in participating in our experiments, please register at the following link: https://rebel.urosario.edu.co/orsee/public/participant_create.php. Once you register, you will receive email notifications about available experiments. Please follow the instructions given in the email to be invited to participate.

Where are the experiments held?

Experiments are conducted at the New Experimental Economics Laboratory, located at Av Jimenez #8a-49, second floor of the Suramericana Building at Universidad del Rosario.

Upon Your Arrival at the Lab

Participants will be admitted to the laboratory based on their arrival order. Due to the importance of reaching a minimum number of participants, it is common practice to call more participants than necessary. This is because some people who register to participate may not show up for the experimental session. Therefore, if you are one of the last to arrive, even if you arrived on time, you might not be allowed to enter the laboratory for that particular session.

What if I arrive at the laboratory but am not allowed to participate?

Late Arrivals: Individuals who arrive late will not be allowed to participate in the session and will not receive experimental payments.

On-Time Arrival but Overcapacity: If you arrive on time but are not allowed to enter the laboratory for a particular session because more people than necessary have appeared:

You will receive COP 7,000 for showing up on time and will be asked to leave the laboratory.
You may participate in future experiments and may receive priority for entry in the next session.

Participant’s Rights

1. Receive payment in cash (immediately after the experiment ends) or to your bank account (within a maximum of 3 business days). The minimum payment is 12,000 COP.

2. All decisions made during the experiment will be confidential. Personal information, decisions, and earnings will be anonymous. Participants' identities and personal data will not be disclosed.

3. Participants have the right to withdraw from the experiment at any time. However, please note that if this occurs, you will forfeit your earnings for that experiment and will not be invited to future experiments.

4. Participants have the right to ask questions during the experimental session. If you do not understand any part of the experiment, you should alert the experimenter by raising your hand so that a member of the research team can approach your desk to answer your question privately. Asking questions aloud is strictly prohibited.

Participant Responsibilities

Attend the session promptly (5 minutes before the session).
Respond to emails within 4 business days if there is an issue with your payment (this applies to payments to bank accounts).
Register only once on the registration platform.