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An experimental study of software agent negotiations with humans

Published: 01 October 2014 Publication History

Abstract

Electronic negotiations allow participants to negotiate online and use analytical support tools in making their decisions. Software agents offer the possibility of automating negotiation process using these tools. This paper aims at investigating the prospects of agent-to-human negotiations using experiments with human subjects. Various types of agents have been configured using the following tactics: individualistic, neutral, yielding, yielding-then-individualistic, and absolute tit-for-tat. These agents were paired up with human counterparts for negotiating product sale. A set of hypotheses has been proposed involving the performance of agents, as well as humans in terms of objective, as well as subjective measures. Overall, the findings speak in favor of agent-managed negotiations. An experiment in software agent - human negotiations is described.Agents employed different negotiation tactics.The negotiation case involving purchase of a computer was used.Subjects were university students.Overall, software agents outperformed human negotiators.

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  1. An experimental study of software agent negotiations with humans

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    Published In

    cover image Decision Support Systems
    Decision Support Systems  Volume 66, Issue C
    October 2014
    196 pages

    Publisher

    Elsevier Science Publishers B. V.

    Netherlands

    Publication History

    Published: 01 October 2014

    Author Tags

    1. Electronic negotiations
    2. Experimental studies
    3. Software agents
    4. Software-human negotiations

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    • (2019)The benefits of collaboration in computer-mediated preference exchange in teamsComputers in Human Behavior10.1016/j.chb.2019.02.03297:C(24-34)Online publication date: 1-Aug-2019
    • (2018)Using Human Photographs to represent Software agents in Human to Agent NegotiationsProceedings of the 4th International Conference on Frontiers of Educational Technologies10.1145/3233347.3233368(102-105)Online publication date: 25-Jun-2018
    • (2017)The effects of interplay between negotiation tactics and task complexity in software agent to human negotiationsElectronic Commerce Research and Applications10.1016/j.elerap.2017.09.00726:C(50-61)Online publication date: 1-Nov-2017
    • (2016)Effects of negotiation tactics and task complexity in software agentProceedings of the 18th Annual International Conference on Electronic Commerce: e-Commerce in Smart connected World10.1145/2971603.2971620(1-5)Online publication date: 17-Aug-2016
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