Choice architecture and nudges

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“A nudge is any aspect of choice architecture that alters peoples’ behavior in a predictable way without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic incentives.”
Nudge, Thaler & Sunstein, 2008

For this assignment, think of a situation in which you or another person might have a hard time making a choice to do something that is better in the long run. Some examples might be as simple as keeping track of your keys or as complex as saving for retirement. Healthy eating, exercise, are sticking to a budget are all everyday examples where nudges can come in handy. Finishing a personal project or working on an enjoyable hobby instead of doom scrolling are less everyday, but also could benefit from a nudge.

Design a nudge that would help people choose a better alternative. It could be just for you or for people in general.

Some types of nudges are:
• Opt-in vs opt-out defaults – when people must opt-out of something like organ donation or retirement programs, they are more likely to participate.

• Make it easy: If you want kids to eat fruit, give them fruit that’s already sliced.

• Reminders: Messages that your car is due for service – from your car.

• Curation: Reduce the number of options in a choice set.

• Perceptual: lines on Lakeshore Drive, putting food on a smaller plate.

Negative nudges:
• Don’t save your credit card information online.

• Don’t bring home food or alcohol that you want to avoid consuming.

For the assignment:
• Explain the problem you’re designing the nudge for. What is the usual behavior and what is the hoped-for behavior?
• Is it just for you or is it more general?
• Describe the nudge and how it will work.
• If possible, try it and report your results.

Sample Solution

Nudge for Personal Project Completion: Beating the “Doomscroll” Monster

Problem: Many people, myself included, struggle to complete personal projects due to the temptation of social media and endless scrolling (“doomscrolling”).

  • Usual Behavior: After starting a personal project (writing, coding, crafting, etc.), I get distracted by social media notifications or the lure of browsing online. This can derail my focus and lead to procrastination, ultimately hindering project completion.
  • Hoped-For Behavior: Maintain focus on the project for a set amount of time, minimizing distractions from social media.

General vs. Specific: This nudge can be applied generally, but I’ll tailor it to my specific situation.

The Nudge: The Pomodoro Technique with a Social Media Blocker.

  • How it Works:
    1. Set a timer for 25 minutes (the Pomodoro Technique).
    2. Before starting the timer, utilize a website blocker extension to block access to social media sites for the duration of the work period. This removes the temptation to check notifications or browse mindlessly.
    3. Focus solely on the personal project for the 25 minutes.
    4. After the timer rings, take a short break (5 minutes) to check social media or browse the internet (optional).
    5. Repeat steps 1-4 for multiple rounds until reaching your desired project completion goal.

Expected Benefits:

  • Removing the readily available social media distraction allows for sustained focus on the project.
  • The 25-minute work intervals provide a manageable timeframe, preventing feelings of overwhelm.
  • The short breaks allow for mental refreshment without getting sucked into the endless scroll.

Trying it Out:

I will be using this nudge for the next week while working on my personal writing project. I will track the number of completed Pomodoro cycles and the overall progress made on the project compared to usual work sessions.

Reporting Results:

I will update this after one week of using the nudge. This will allow me to see if it effectively increases my focus and project completion rate.

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