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Using environmental nudges to reduce academic cheating in young children
Li Zhao1,2, Yi Zheng2, Haiying Mao1
1Department of Psychology, School of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, PR China.
Developmental Science
|April 26, 2021
Summary
Making answer keys less accessible reduces cheating in children. Even simple visual cues, like a photo, can significantly deter academic dishonesty, showing the power of nudges.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Nudges, or subtle environmental changes, influence adult decision-making by altering option accessibility.
- Previous research indicates that the ease of accessing behavioral choices impacts adult choices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if manipulating the accessibility of an answer key can reduce academic cheating in young children.
- To explore the effectiveness of different types of occluders and their representations in deterring cheating.
Main Methods:
- Children completed a math test with a hidden answer key, with accessibility manipulated using occluders (opaque paper, tissue box, photos).
- Three studies varied the physical and symbolic accessibility of the answer key to observe cheating rates.
Main Results:
- An opaque sheet significantly reduced cheating compared to a transparent one.
- A 3D occluder (tissue box) was more effective than a 2D occluder (opaque paper).
- Symbolic representations (photo, drawing) reduced cheating, with realistic photos being most effective.
Conclusions:
- Manipulating the accessibility of behavioral options is an effective strategy to nudge children away from academic cheating.
- The type of object and its symbolic representation can differentially influence children's moral behavior and academic integrity.
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