Zickfeld, J. H., et al. (2024).
Nature human behaviour,
10.1038/s41562-024-02009-0.
Advance online publication.
Abstract
Dishonest behaviours such as tax evasion impose significant societal costs. Ex ante honesty oaths-commitments to honesty before action-have been proposed as interventions to counteract dishonest behaviour, but the heterogeneity in findings across operationalizations calls their effectiveness into question. We tested 21 honesty oaths (including a baseline oath)-proposed, evaluated and selected by 44 expert researchers-and a no-oath condition in a megastudy involving 21,506 UK and US participants from Prolific.com who played an incentivized tax evasion game online. Of the 21 interventions, 10 significantly improved tax compliance by 4.5 to 8.5 percentage points, with the most successful nearly halving tax evasion. Limited evidence for moderators was found. Experts and laypeople failed to predict the most effective interventions, though experts' predictions were more accurate. In conclusion, honesty oaths were effective in curbing dishonesty, but their effectiveness varied depending on content. These findings can help design impactful interventions to curb dishonesty.
The article is paywalled, unfortunately.
Here are some thoughts:
This research has shed light on the nuanced impact of honesty oaths in curbing dishonest behavior. The study found that while these pre-commitment pledges can be effective in reducing dishonesty, their efficacy varies significantly based on the specific wording and content of the oath. This finding underscores the principle that not all honesty oaths are created equal, with some potentially being more impactful than others in preventing dishonest conduct.
The research emphasizes that the content of an honesty oath plays a crucial role in its ability to deter dishonest behavior. While some oaths were shown to significantly reduce dishonesty, others had little to no effect, indicating that a generic oath may not be sufficient. This variation in effectiveness highlights the importance of careful design when crafting honesty oaths to ensure they are targeted and impactful in specific situations.
These findings have potential implications for various domains where honesty is critical. In the realm of ethical decision-making, this research could inform the development of more effective ethical guidelines and codes of conduct in fields such as business or healthcare. For policymakers, the study's insights could guide the design of interventions aimed at reducing dishonest behaviors like tax evasion, by ensuring that honesty pledges are optimally worded and focused. Overall, this research underscores the importance of thoughtful, context-specific approaches when implementing honesty oaths as a tool for promoting ethical behavior.
