Do default nudges and financial incentives increase COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among university students?

Last registered on May 07, 2021
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Do default nudges and financial incentives increase COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among university students?
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0007647
Initial registration date
May 07, 2021

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
May 07, 2021, 3:44 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Country
United States of America
Region
Wyoming

Primary Investigator

Name
Madison Ashworth
Affiliation
Fletcher Group, Inc.
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Linda Thunstrom
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
Contact Investigator
PI Name
David Finnoff
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Stephen Newbold
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Todd Cherry
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2021-05-07
End date
2021-08-01
Keywords
Behavior, Health
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Abstract
The goal of this study is to determine the effectiveness of default nudges, direct payments, and lottery payments in increasing vaccine acceptance. We will conduct a single survey where participants are exposed to one of two choice architecture treatments and then one of two financial incentive treatments. In the choice architecture treatments participants will either see a default nudge treatment, where they must opt out of taking the vaccine by cancelling a premade appointment, or an active choice treatment, where they can choose to take the COVID-19 vaccine by making an appointment or going to a walk-in clinic. Participants will then see a direct payment treatment or a lottery treatment. We will determine the proportion of the student population that would take the vaccine under these different hypothetical scenarios.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Ashworth, Madison et al. 2021. "Do default nudges and financial incentives increase COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among university students?." AEA RCT Registry. May 07. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.7647-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
We will conduct a single survey where participants are exposed to one of two choice architecture treatments and then one of two financial incentive treatments. In the choice architecture treatments participants will either see a default nudge treatment, where they must opt out of taking the vaccine by cancelling a premade appointment, or an active choice treatment, where they can choose to take the COVID-19 vaccine by making an appointment or going to a walk-in clinic. Participants will then see a direct payment treatment or a lottery treatment. We will determine the proportion of the student population that would take the vaccine under these different hypothetical scenarios.
Intervention Start Date
2021-05-07
Intervention End Date
2021-05-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
The proportion of students that indicate they will take a COVID-19 vaccine.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Participants will be randomized into one of two treatments which varies whether the vaccine choice is framed as a default/opt-out choice or an active choice. Participants will be asked how likely they are to take the COVID-19 vaccine when they return to campus. Then, participants will be randomized into one of two financial incentive treatments. In each of the financial incentive treatments, participants will be given a multiple price list that outlines different values of direct payments of Cowboy Cash or a lottery with different odds of receiving $300 worth of Cowboy Cash. Participants will be asked to indicate for 7 different payments/lotteries whether they would take the vaccine or not. Participants will then be asked about their reasons for accepting or declining the vaccine, if they have previously had COVID-19, their academic standing and living plans for Fall 2021, their beliefs about vaccines and trust in different information sources, and some demographic questions.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
By a computer
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
0
Sample size: planned number of observations
1,200
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
400 per choice treatment - 100 per incentive treatment
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
University of Wyoming Institutional Review Board
IRB Approval Date
2021-05-07
IRB Approval Number
N/A
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials