Primary Outcomes (end points)
The primary experimental endpoint is BNPL/later-payment choice in the hypothetical purchase scenarios. For each of the eight scenarios, the outcome equals 1 if the participant chooses payment option B, the later-payment option, and 0 if the participant chooses option A, immediate payment of 500 euros. The main participant-level endpoint is the share of the eight scenarios in which the later-payment option is chosen.
A second primary endpoint is sensitivity to BNPL contract attributes. This is estimated from choices across the randomized scenario attributes: repayment timing, payment structure, cost framing, and cost level. The later-payment option varies across 72 possible combinations: payment after 30 days, 3 months, or 12 months; monthly instalment repayment or one-time later payment; costs shown as percentages or euro amounts; and cost levels ranging from discounts to no change to fees.
A third primary endpoint is real-world financial behavior and financial well-being, measured before the information intervention using survey items on current debt, affordability checks before purchases, timely bill payment, long-term financial goals, confidence in managing finances, financial insecurity, spontaneous financial decisions, household financial tasks, saving and investing behavior, retirement saving, and financial fragility in response to an unexpected 2,000 euro expense.
A fourth primary endpoint is financial and BNPL-related knowledge. General financial knowledge is measured using quiz-style items on interest compounding, inflation, diversification, credit interest, stock-market function, and riskiness of asset classes. BNPL knowledge is measured using true/false items about whether BNPL is credit, whether late fees may apply, whether BNPL can affect creditworthiness, whether users can be approved despite affordability problems, whether BNPL is the only way to buy certain products, and whether the agreement is always directly with the merchant.