GT Game Theorylesson page

Signals and screening

Teach students to ask what a signal actually proves.

Tryouts, club applications, recommendations, outfits, and public confidence can all send signals. The fairness question is whether the signal measures preparation, access, status, or something else.

Try the signals module

Teacher setup

Give students a club tryout scenario. The leader wants reliable applicants but cannot see private effort. Students redesign the signal so it gives better information and treats students more fairly.

Discussion prompts

  1. What is visible to the decision-maker?
  2. What important information is hidden?
  3. Who has easier access to the current signal?
  4. What fairer signal could measure the thing that matters?