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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2018 Nov:62:95-104.
doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2018.09.002. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

The limits of simple implementation intentions: Evidence from a field experiment on making plans to exercise

Mariana Carrera  1 , Heather Royer  2 , Mark Stehr  3 , Justin Sydnor  4 , Dmitry Taubinsky  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The limits of simple implementation intentions: Evidence from a field experiment on making plans to exercise

Mariana Carrera et al. J Health Econ. 2018 Nov.

Abstract

Recent large-scale randomized experiments find that helping people form implementation intentions by asking when and where they plan to act increases one-time actions, such as vaccinations, preventative screenings and voting. We investigate the effect of a simple scalable planning intervention on a repeated behavior using a randomized design involving 877 subjects at a private gym. Subjects were randomized into i) a treatment group who selected the days and times they intended to attend the gym over the next two weeks or ii) a control group who instead recorded their days of exercise in the prior two weeks. In contrast to recent studies, we find that the planning intervention did not have a positive effect on behavior. We observe a tightly estimated null effect even though the majority of subjects believed that planning is helpful and despite clear evidence that they engaged with the planning process.

Keywords: Behavioral economics; Exercise; Health behaviors; Implementation intentions; Nudge; Physical activity; Planning.

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Figures

Appendix Figure 1.
Appendix Figure 1.. Planning Worksheet for Planning Treatment
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Distribution of Days Visiting Gym by Treatment Status
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Fraction Visiting Gym during Each Day of Planning Period
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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