Beware of names: Validating name-based status and gender cues in Italy,Germany,and the United States

Abstract

First and last names are frequently used in experimental research to signal group memberships such as gender, ethnicity, or social status. In other cases, names are included to enhance the realism of experiments, under the assumption that they do not convey any attributes beyond those manipulated by the researcher. Regardless of their intended function, the use of names requires careful attention to construct validity. Additionally, names may unintentionally evoke perceptions of characteristics outside the researcher's control, potentially confounding the intended experimental treatments. This contribution presents findings from a cross-national survey experiment specifically designed to validate the gender and social status signaled by first and last names, further exploring perceptions of age and ethnicity in three countries: Italy, Germany, and the United States. Based on nearly 18,000 evaluations (of around 120 first names and 120 last names in each country) from 900 respondents, we find substantial variation in the perception of the intended attributes related to names, as well as evidence of intersectional perceptions, with names signaling multiple attributes simultaneously. We provide descriptive statistics on the perceptions associated with our large sample of names across the three countries. Accompanied by replication packages, this contribution aims to offer a practical resource for researchers seeking to incorporate names into their studies.