Page 1 of 1

Irrational Property Rights

We are exploring students' perceptions of unassigned seating and the psychology behind "claiming" space. Your responses are anonymous.

On a scale of 1–10, how much annoyance (disutility) do you feel when you arrive at the library and find someone else sitting in the exact chair you usually occupy?

On a scale of 1–10, how much annoyance (disutility) do you feel when you arrive at the library and find someone else sitting in the exact chair you usually occupy?

Have you ever left a single item (e.g., a notebook, jacket, or charger) on a desk for more than 1 hour while you were physically elsewhere (lunch, class, etc.) specifically to ensure no one else took the seat?

Have you ever left a single item (e.g., a notebook, jacket, or charger) on a desk for more than 1 hour while you were physically elsewhere (lunch, class, etc.) specifically to ensure no one else took the seat?
A
B
C

If you see a desk with only a single notebook on it and no one has been there for two hours, do you feel:

If you see a desk with only a single notebook on it and no one has been there for two hours, do you feel:
A
B
C

Which word best describes your feeling when someone sits in "your" spot?

Which word best describes your feeling when someone sits in "your" spot?
A
B
C
D

If you left your personal items (a notebook, jacket, or charger) to save a spot and return to find that someone has moved your belongings to a different table to take the seat, how would you characterize your reaction?

If you left your personal items (a notebook, jacket, or charger) to save a spot and return to find that someone has moved your belongings to a different table to take the seat, how would you characterize your reaction?
A
B
C
D