Maxent in Experimental 2$\times$2 Population Games

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.