ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R
主办:中国科学院心理研究所
出版:科学出版社

心理科学进展 ›› 2023, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (12): 2275-2294.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2023.02275

• 元分析 • 上一篇    下一篇

基于元分析的助推效果研究:“认知路径”与“透明性”的二维视角

李燕1, 陈文进1(), 张书维2   

  1. 1中国海洋大学国际事务与公共管理学院, 山东 青岛 266100
    2中山大学中国公共管理研究中心/中山大学政治与公共事务管理学院, 广州 510275
  • 收稿日期:2023-04-12 出版日期:2023-12-15 发布日期:2023-09-11
  • 通讯作者: 陈文进, E-mail: whcwj1994@163.com
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金面上项目(72074041);教育部社科重大项目(22JZD028);山东省泰山学者青年专家项目(tsqn202211063);中国海洋大学中央高校基本科研业务费(202312002);山东省哲学社会科学青年人才团队项目;山东省社科联人文社会科学课题(2023-zkzd-047)

The behavioral effects of nudge: A meta-analysis based on a dual perspective of “Cognitive Pathway” and “Transparency”

LI Yan1, CHEN Wenjin1(), ZHANG Shuwei2   

  1. 1School of International Affairs and Public Management, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
    2Center for Chinese Public Administration Research, School of Government, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
  • Received:2023-04-12 Online:2023-12-15 Published:2023-09-11

摘要:

基于“认知路径”与“透明性”的二维视角, 对行为公共政策专业期刊Behavioural Public Policy (2017~ 2022)与Behavioral Science & Policy (2015~2022)中40篇助推研究的108个实证结果进行元分析, 系统评估助推措施有效性, 比较不同认知路径和透明程度助推措施的相对优势, 探索助推效果异质性的影响因素, 分析认知路径、透明性与异质性因素的交互效应。研究发现: (1)助推干预效果综合效应量较小, 不同研究效应量呈现明显差异; (2)不同认知路径与透明性的助推有效性存在差异, 助推的认知路径与透明性对其有效性的影响存在交互效应; (3)助推效果受研究设计和行为领域的影响, 助推发挥作用的认知路径、助推设计的透明性与异质性影响因素间呈现出复杂的互动作用。

关键词: 行为公共政策, 助推, 元分析, 政策效果, 认知路径, 透明性

Abstract:

Challenges faced by nudges in practice have prompted scholars to reflect on effectiveness and applicable conditions of nudge. A common approach is to conduct meta-analyses on the results of behavioral intervention experiments involving nudges. However, existing meta-analyses have significant limitations. On one hand, due to differences in the selection of effect size indicators, the results of different meta-analyses lack comparability, preventing a comprehensive view of the overall effects of various nudging tools across common behavioral domains. On the other hand, most existing meta-analyses categorize nudges based on the “MINDSPACE” framework, which does not encompass all nudge interventions.

Drawing inspiration from Hansen and Jespersen (2013), this study establishes an analytical framework from a dual perspective of cognitive pathway and transparency, encompassing commonly used nudging interventions in practice. Based on this framework, a meta-analysis is conducted to compare the differences in effectiveness across nudge categories, providing a comprehensive and objective evaluation of the real effects of nudges under different cognitive pathways and levels of transparency. This helps address academic disputes regarding the effectiveness of nudges under different cognitive pathways and transparency levels.

This study focuses on the effectiveness of nudge in the actual policy domain, conducting a meta-analysis on nudge intervention experimental research published in the two professional journals: Behavioural Public Policy (2017-2022) and Behavioral Science & Policy (2015-2022). Using the standardized mean difference (Cohen's d) as an effect size index, Comprehensive Meta Analysis 2.0 is employed to calculate the effect size. All articles published in these two journals were included (a total of 330) in our sample frame, and a thorough reading of the full text was used to screen the literature one by one. The experimental data included in the meta-analysis had to meet the calculation requirements of CMA 2.0, containing basic statistical data such as means, standard deviations, t-values, and F-values. After screening, 40 sample articles were ultimately selected, yielding 108 research results. Considering the differences in research sample sizes, a random effects model was applied to calculate the overall effect of nudging, and then compare the effectiveness of nudges that work through different cognitive pathways and are presented with different levels of transparency. Subsequently, a regression analysis model is established using SPSS25 to test the effects of three classes of heterogeneity factors (research design, behavioral characteristics, and behavioral domains) with eight variables (sample size, field experiment, data type, behavioral motivation, monetary change, health, consumption, finance, public interest) on nudging intervention effects; Finally, an interaction regression analysis model is constructed to analyze the interactions between nudge cognitive pathways, transparency, and heterogeneity factors.

The results showed that: (1) Nudge research in the field of behavioral public policy has a relatively small overall effect and still faces the risk of failure in practice. (2) Transparent nudges can also be effective in guiding people to change their behaviour, and there is an interactive effect between different nudges that work through different cognitive pathways and are presented with different levels of transparency. (3) The effects of nudges are influenced by study design and vary across different behavioral domains. (4) Complex interactions are observed between the cognitive pathways through which nudges operate, the transparency of nudge design, and the factors affecting effect size heterogeneity.

The academic contributions of this paper are: (1) By conducting a meta-analysis on nudge behavioral effects from the dual perspectives of “cognitive pathway” and “transparency”, this research helps separate the actual effects of various psychological cognitive processes and intervention techniques, aiding in forming an objective understanding of the real effectiveness of different types of nudges. (2) Evaluating the effects and differences of various nudges, which not only addresses the academic debate on whether nudge designs should be transparent but also compares the differences in the effects of two cognitive pathways on behavior change, providing empirical evidence for the selection of nudging tools in subsequent policy practices. (3) This study's analysis of the root causes of heterogeneity in nudge effects enriches the literature on the factors influencing nudge effectiveness and applicable conditions, promoting the accumulation of knowledge in the field of behavioral public policy.

Key words: behavioural public policy, nudge, meta-analysis, policy effectiveness, cognitive pathway, transparency

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