Digital Nudging — The Power of Defaults
Project Description
Many decisions are increasingly made in online contexts. It is therefore important to understand the impact of websites and their context on our decision-making behaviour. Even small modifications in websites can have a lasting influence on a decision. One of these modifications based on behavioral principles (also called "nudges") is the conscious setting of default values. Websites are increasingly using defaults, which often increase the likelihood that users will choose certain (preferred) options, such as subscribing to mailing lists.
Due to heuristics and biases, e.g. status quo bias, we tend to accept these defaults instead of actively rejecting them. However, the factors that lead to acceptance or rejection of defaults in online environments are not yet fully understood; in particular, the influence of mental effort and cognitive exhaustion is unclear. The aim of the project is to gain a deeper understanding of the (cognitive) factors that influence the acceptance or rejection of defaults.
Due to heuristics and biases, e.g. status quo bias, we tend to accept these defaults instead of actively rejecting them. However, the factors that lead to acceptance or rejection of defaults in online environments are not yet fully understood; in particular, the influence of mental effort and cognitive exhaustion is unclear. The aim of the project is to gain a deeper understanding of the (cognitive) factors that influence the acceptance or rejection of defaults.
