Contributions

  • Gilchrist, Duncan S. - Contributor
  • Harvard Business School - Contributor

Publication

2011 - Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts

Language

English

Word Count

6,500 words, Guess

Page Count

26 pages

Identifiers

Description

In an online experiment, we measure users' interactions with search engines, both in standard configurations and in modified versions with clearer labels identifying search engine advertisements. In particular, for a random subset of users, we change "Sponsored links" or "Ads" labels to instead read "Paid Advertisements." Relative to users receiving the "Sponsored link" or "Ad" labels, users receiving the "Paid Advertisement" label click 25% and 27% fewer advertisements, respectively. Users seeing "Paid Advertisement" labels also correctly report that they click fewer advertisements, controlling for the number of advertisements they actually click. Results are most pronounced for commercial searches, and for vulnerable users with low education and little online experience.

Subjects

Series Statement

  • Working paper / Harvard Business School -- 11-048

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