Maxent in Experimental 2$\times$2 Population Games

TL;DR

This paper tests the Maxent principle in 2x2 population games using extensive experimental data, confirming its predictive power while noting deviations in small samples that are more concentrated.

Contribution

It provides empirical validation of Maxent in human strategic behavior and highlights deviations in small samples, advancing understanding of social game dynamics.

Findings

Maxent fits experimental entropy well

Deviations occur in small samples

Deviated patterns are more concentrated

Abstract

In mixed strategy 2\times2 population games, the realization of maximum entropy (Maxent) is of the theoretical expectation. We evaluate this theoretical prediction in the experimental economics game data. The data includes 12 treatments and 108 experimental sessions in which the random match human subjects pairs make simultaneous strategy moves repeated 200 rounds. Main results are (1) We confirm that experimental entropy value fit the prediction from Maxent well; and (2) In small proportion samples, distributions are deviated from Maxent expectations; interesting is that, the deviated patterns are significant more concentrated. These experimental findings could enhance the understanding of social game behavior with the natural science rule --- Maxent.