THE EFFECTS OF FEEDBACK ON COOPERATION IN THE PRISONER’S DILEMMA GAME SIMULATING A CLOSED MARKET SCENARIO

This study explores the effects of feedback on cooperation in the iterated prisoner’s dilemma game (PDG). Four sources of feedback were identified: peer, buyer, market and cultural feedback. Peer and buyer feedback were intrinsic to the PDG, for they were analyzed, but not manipulated. Market and cultural feedback comprised independent variables and their effects were measured on players’ and group cooperation (dependent variables). Twenty-seven participants played a PDG, divided in 9 groups of 3 players each. Cooperation was measured as rates of individual players’ cooperative X choices, and as aggregate products within groups. At the molecular (moment-to-moment) level, there was a significant within-subjects main effect of the market feedback F(1, 28) = 6.50, p = .02, ?p2 = .19. At the molar level, there was no significant effect of the market feedback, nor of the cultural feedback. It was not possible to establish a metacontingency between recurrent group cooperation and positive contingent group consequences. Players displayed sub-optimal choice behavior, seeking to maximize relative earnings within their group (defecting) over absolute earnings (cooperating). These results are discussed in light of how the source of feedback may sustain cooperation or defection in the PDG, and their implications in organizational settings. Reinforcing cooperative behaviors can be key to the maintenance and development of any organization, for informative performance feedback may not suffice. This study contributes to the understanding of economic decisional behavior in groups from a cultural selectionist perspective.Keywords: choice, cooperation, feedback, metacontingency, prisoner’s dilemma game

TAILORING FERROMAGNET–MOLECULE INTERFACES: TOWARDS MOLECULAR SPINTRONICS

Understanding the interaction of organic molecules adsorbed on magnetic surfaces has shown considerable progress in recent years. The creation of hybridized interface between carbon-based aromatic molecule and the magnetic surface is observed to give rise to new interface states with unique electronic and magnetic character. This study has opened up a molecular-design initiative to tailor the spin dependent electronic and magnetic functionalities of the hybrid interface. The purpose of this article is to provide a fundamental understanding of the spin-chemistry and spin-physics associated with the formation of such ferromagnet-molecule hybrid interfaces. We also discuss the recent progress in this field using state-of-the-art experiments and theoretical calculations with focus on the magnetic properties of the molecule and the magnetic surface. The study reveals several interesting interface phenomena: formation of induced molecular moment and exchange coupling with the magnetic surface, and molecular spin-filters. It also demonstrates significant changes in the magnetic anisotropy and inter-atomic magnetic exchange coupling of the magnetic surface. These studies open the possibilities of exploring new molecular functionalities toward further research in the subfield of interface-assisted molecular spintronics.

On the Determination of Moment of Inertia of Prolate Luminescent Molecules

The possibility to determine simultaneously the effective volume and the molecular moment of inertia on the basis of the generalized equation of the rotational motion of prolate luminescent molecules in solutions is discussed.