Communication and Cooperation in Social Dilemmas: A Meta-Analytic Review

Among the most researched solutions to social dilemmas is communication. Since the late 1950s, it has been well known that communication enhances cooperation in social dilemmas. This article reports a meta-analysis of this literature (forty-five effect sizes) and finds a large positive effect of com...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Conflict Resolution 2010-02, Vol.54 (1), p.39-57
Main Author: Balliet, Daniel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal communication
Communication
Communications
Conflict resolution
Cooperation
Exchange programs
Experimentation
Group size
Meta-analysis
Prisoners dilemma
Public goods
Reciprocity
Social communication
Social dilemmas
Social problems
Systematic review
Written communication
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Summary:Among the most researched solutions to social dilemmas is communication. Since the late 1950s, it has been well known that communication enhances cooperation in social dilemmas. This article reports a meta-analysis of this literature (forty-five effect sizes) and finds a large positive effect of communication on cooperation in social dilemmas (d = 1.01). This effect is moderated by the type of communication, with a stronger effect of face-to-face discussion (d = 1.21) compared to written messages (d = 0.46). The communication-cooperation relationship is also stronger in larger, compared to smaller, group social dilemmas. Whether communication occurred before or during iterated dilemmas did not statistically affect the communication-cooperation effect size. Results are discussed according to theory and research on communication in social dilemmas.
ISSN:0022-0027
1552-8766
DOI:10.1177/0022002709352443