How do combinations of nudges affect consumer sustainable behavior?

Last registered on July 25, 2021
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
How do combinations of nudges affect consumer sustainable behavior?
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0007672
Initial registration date
May 14, 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 17, 2021, 10:34 AM EDT

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

Last updated
July 25, 2021, 11:43 AM EDT

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Country
United States of America
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Rachel Pompa
Affiliation
University of Wyoming
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Linda Thunstrom
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
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PI Name
Klaas van 't Veld
PI Affiliation
University of Wyoming
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Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2021-07-26
End date
2021-09-30
Keywords
Behavior, Environment & Energy
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Abstract
Individuals are often exposed to multiple information messages. Multiple messages should reinforce each other, but recent consumer decision making research finds that combining information messages can reduce the behavior the messages are trying to encourage. We examine how donations to the Clean Water Fund, an environmental organization focused on water issues, are affect by information nudges, specifically when multiple information nudges are combined. To perform our analysis, we collect experimental data and compare monetary donations in a baseline treatment with no information nudge, to donations in three information nudge treatments emphasizing private-health benefits, environmental benefits, or health and environmental benefits to donating. Also, we compare heterogeneity in the treatment effects across environmental involvement and political affiliation. These dimensions will be measured with variables created based on survey responses to questions about environmental consumption, attitudes, and beliefs, and political affiliation and ideology respectively.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Pompa, Rachel, Linda Thunstrom and Klaas van 't Veld. 2021. "How do combinations of nudges affect consumer sustainable behavior?." AEA RCT Registry. July 25. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.7672-2.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2021-07-26
Intervention End Date
2021-09-30

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
The amount participants choose to donate to cleaning water pollution, via the Clean Water Fund.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We will conduct an incentivized experiment in which participants are offered the opportunity to donate $0-$5 to the Clean Water Fund – an organization that works to improve water quality. We will collect data using an online panel. Before they are offered the opportunity to donate, participants will be randomized into one of four treatments -- treatment baseline: participants receive no nudge (i.e., are offered an opportunity to donate to the Clean Water Fund directly); treatment self: individuals are presented with a nudge about the private-health benefits from improved water quality; treatment environment: individuals are presented with a nudge about the environmental benefits from improved water quality; treatment combination: individuals are presented with the private-health and environmental benefits from improved water quality.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization done by computer (in Qualtrics software).
Randomization Unit
Each participant is randomized into one of the four treatments.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
1000 participants
Sample size: planned number of observations
1000 participants
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Treatment baseline: 250 participants
Treatment self: 250 participants
Treatment environmental: 250 participants
Treatment combination: 250 participants
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 IRB
IRB Approval Date
2021-05-05
IRB Approval Number
N/A
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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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