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on Nudge and Boosting |
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Issue of 2026–06–22
three papers chosen by Marco Novarese, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale |
| By: | t'Serstevens, François; Oschatz, Corinna; , Abdul.Sittar; Trilling, Damian; Guček, Alenka |
| Abstract: | Online social networks have become a central arena for political and social discourse, yet interactions on these platforms are frequently characterized by hostile interactions. While disagreement is a normal and required feature of democratic debate, research suggests that disrespectful communication discourages users from engaging in political discussions and may negatively affect both participants and the broader audience exposed to such interactions. In response, previous interventions have attempted to improve online discourse through behavioral nudges and interface design changes, though their effectiveness has often been limited. This study examines whether AI-mediated paraphrasing interventions can reduce uncivil expression while preserving substantive disagreement in online political discussions. Using an experimental setting that simulates social media interactions, we analyse how AI-generated paraphrases influence the tone of conversations and assess their effects not only on the direct participants of a debate but also on external observers who encounter these exchanges. The findings provide insights into the potential of AI-assisted communication tools to foster healthier online discourse. |
| Date: | 2026–05–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:jhbuf_v1 |
| By: | Paolo Pin; Roberto Rozzi; Alessandro Stringhi |
| Abstract: | Museums can serve as policy tools when their content is purposefully curated. We designed a framed field experiment at the Santa Maria della Scala museum in Siena that leveraged the site's historical role offering care and hospitality.Student visitors randomly assigned to a tour emphasizing this function later donated more to an NGO supporting refugee than those who followed a standard artistic itinerary, with effects concentrated among female participants. These results show that thematically targeted museum experiences can measurably boost charitable behavior toward vulnerable groups, underscoring the untapped potential of cultural institutions in behavioral public policy. |
| Date: | 2026–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2606.07109 |
| By: | Maja Adena (WZB Berlin, TU Berlin); Patrycja Janowska-Widomska (University of Warsaw); Julian Harke (WZB Berlin) |
| Abstract: | An increasing number of individuals worldwide are participating in crowdwork and tele-work. They often perform tasks such as AI training and content moderation. While these tasks are typically conducted in large quantities and often involve routine elements, their nature makes them inherently demanding. They require high levels of engagement or creativity and produce outputs of subjective quality that are difficult to measure. In a preregistered field experiment involving over 5, 500 crowdworkers, we examined the impact of automated recognition and work-appreciation phrases and payment framing on motivation, performance, and job satisfaction. The results indicate that recognition—automated phrases: Great work! You did a good job! Nice job! Well done!—positively influences subjective job satisfaction, and that loss-framed payment is somewhat more effective than gain framing. Overall, the treatments have little effect on objective and subjective performance and moti-vation. |
| Keywords: | crowdworkers; complex tasks; routine; automated motivation; nonmonetary incentives; recognition and appreciation; loss and gain framework; experiment; |
| JEL: | J33 J24 M54 M52 D83 C93 |
| Date: | 2026–06–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rco:dpaper:576 |