Long-Run Effects of an Behavioral Intervention: Experimental Evidence from Meat Consumption

Last registered on August 09, 2022
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Long-Run Effects of an Behavioral Intervention: Experimental Evidence from Meat Consumption
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0009908
Initial registration date
August 09, 2022

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
August 09, 2022, 5:02 PM EDT

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

Locations

Country
Germany
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Stephan Sommer
Affiliation
RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Jana Eßer
PI Affiliation
RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Daniela Flörchinger
PI Affiliation
RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Manuel Frondel
PI Affiliation
RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2022-07-25
End date
2023-07-31
Keywords
Agriculture, Behavior, Environment & Energy
Additional Keywords
Field experiment, meat consumption, climate change mitigation
JEL code(s)
D12, D91, I12, Q18
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
We conduct a large-scale survey experiment among roughly 3,000 individuals in Germany. We investigate whether long-term informational and supportive interventions over a period of four months can reduce the participants' actual meat consumption. Specifically, our treatment groups receive information about the positive effects of reducing meat consumption on the climate and the environment as well as vegetarian recipes and tips for a reduction in meat consumption.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Eßer, Jana et al. 2022. "Long-Run Effects of an Behavioral Intervention: Experimental Evidence from Meat Consumption." AEA RCT Registry. August 09. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.9908-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
We randomize the participants into four experimental groups: the three treatment groups `Information', `Support', `Information + Support', and a control group. While participants assigned to the control group do not receive any treatment, participants in the treatment groups receive newsletters which motivate them to reduce their meat consumption. Over a period of about four months, starting at the end of the baseline survey period, each participant receives eight newsletters via email, one newsletter every two weeks.
Intervention Start Date
2022-07-25
Intervention End Date
2023-07-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Meat consumption approximately one month, four months, seven months and one year after the baseline survey.
Well-being
Stage of change
Reasons for a reduction in their meat consumption
Track of access the newsletters
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
With our study we aim at investigating whether we can decrease the participants' meat consumption by informing them about the positive effects of a reduction in meat consumption on the climate and the environment, as well as by providing them with recipes and other supportive information. To this end, we conduct a survey among 3,000 individuals and elicit their meat consumption using a food-frequency questionnaire. In particular, we ask survey participants how many portions of meat they ate in the past four weeks. We randomly split the sample into four experimental groups.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization by compter
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
3,000 individuals
Sample size: planned number of observations
3,000 individuals
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
750
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
The MDE lies between 6 and 7%.
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
IRB Approval Date
IRB Approval Number
Analysis Plan

Analysis Plan Documents

PAP_Meat_Consumption.pdf

MD5: afc09571c8a3a64d602a0d4d97a175c7

SHA1: 685634a821b7bf0f233e4b676f5b0beed128ac75

Uploaded At: August 09, 2022

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