Gender differences when choosing between salary allocation options

Abstract

Individuals chose between two ‘salary increase’ options: (1) an increase of $500 for themselves and $500 for a colleague; or (2) an increase of $600 for themselves and $800 for a colleague. The gender of the colleague was manipulated, hence permitting the investigation of four possible gender dyads (male-male, male-female, female-male, female-female). A main effect was found for the subjects' gender, namely a majority of women preferred option 1 while the majority of men preferred option 2. No interaction was found between the gender of the subjects and those of the colleagues.