These kinds of studies have been done before, and are tricky. What if one person walks away with 6 bottles? Peoples "provisional ethics" kick in when its something minor; ("It's only a bottle of tea, probably wholesales for 21 cents." or "Don't have a buck on me now, I'll pay later." ) Most studies have shown when stakes are higher, a lost wallet with $100 in it for example, more than 78% are completely honest.

Does this not show the mentality of people today, erroneously thinking they are 'intitled' to have whether they pay or not. Or is it they were not taught about honesty?

Surprise!

The city that elected a Stroger.

Its not ok to experiment with people. Stop playing silly games. Testing people. Go help feed some starving kids. Always jerking around. Thats the problem. Grown people get together and run these scams. Set people up then blame them for what you set them up to do! OBEY YA THRIST! ITS A BOTTLE OF TEA SITTING OUTSIDE! WHAT ABOUT SLAVERY! why not put a whip up and see who whip somebody? Oh, we cant talk about that, but we got all this free time to pay little games like this. I see this all day. Room full of grown people, goofing off finding ways to distract themselves. Group denial. Looking for a way to reaffirm your stereotypes. Just stop the games

wow, crazy much?

experiments like this are important, they aren't just for trivial matters.  the data from these types of experiments are applied, like to programs for, say, feeding starving kids. 

i'd go further into it, but the argumentative attitude displayed in your original comment insinuates it'd be wasted effort.

the honest system yeah right .......look at our politicans......in this system you must b joking!

got to love the honest system....right feed the homless!

OK chill out folks, could it be that a company say like "honest tea" was looking for some free publicity, So that company may have run a "social experiment"...LOL like who would steal $1.00 Ice tea and than compare cities. So that they could make a press release saying something like "Hey your city is filled with more thieves than the other city?.......LOL

I had one of those teas and it made me sick. I should sue them! I went back and got three more free ones and gave them to my less than favorite coworkers! Does anyone have there accounting departments address so I can send them an invoice for the box of Imodium A.D.?

Someone should have told them the unofficial motto of chicago is "Me First".