Facebook Experiment on Voter Turnout

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Questions and Answers

What was the outcome of the program in terms of reducing conflicts at treatment schools compared to control schools?

Disciplinary reports of student conflict at treatment schools were reduced by 25% over 1 year.

In which schools was the effect of the treatment strongest?

The effect of the treatment was strongest in schools where the seed group had more social referents (top 10% of nominations for that school).

What do empirical results suggest future interventions should do to be successful based on the study?

Future interventions would do well to use as many social referents in their intervention group as possible.

Explain why the treatment effect was stronger in schools with more social referents in the seed group.

Greater communication about conflict may explain the stronger treatment effect in schools with more social referents in the seed group. Signup and view all the answers

How does the study's outcome support the importance of social norms manipulation?

The study's outcome supports the importance of using social norms manipulation to influence behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What were the three conditions in the randomized controlled trial conducted during the US Election Day in 2010?

Information Message condition, Social Message condition, Control condition Signup and view all the answers

What dependent variables were measured in the study related to the US Election Day in 2010?

Clicking the 'I Voted' button, Clicking the polling place link, Voting in the election Signup and view all the answers

What was found regarding the impact of social norm information on donations in individuals low in xenophobia?

No social norm information increased donations only in those relatively low in xenophobia. Signup and view all the answers

How did social norm manipulation coupled with social norm information impact donations in the most xenophobic individuals?

Social norm manipulation coupled with social norm information increased donations in the most xenophobic individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What was identified as a key mechanism for behavior change induced by persuasion in the study?

Evaluation system Signup and view all the answers

How did the inclusion of neuroscience information affect participants' perception of the argument presented?

Participants perceived the argument as stronger, even if it was weak. Signup and view all the answers

How did the anti-conflict intervention target specific behaviors in schools?

The intervention targeted specific behaviors through slogan creation, visual reminders, and positive reinforcement. Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of the 'seed groups' in the anti-conflict intervention?

The 'seed groups' became faces of the campaign, advocating against identified conflicts. Signup and view all the answers

How did the research assistant contribute to the anti-conflict intervention?

The research assistant met with 'seed groups' to identify school-specific conflict behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What were the dependent measures used to evaluate the intervention's impact?

Perceptions of conflict before and at the end of the school year, and school administrative records on peer-conflict disciplinary events. Signup and view all the answers

How were schools selected for the anti-conflict intervention?

Half of the schools were randomized to receive the intervention, while the other half received no intervention. Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'social referent' in the context of the study?

A 'social referent' is defined as someone who has a lot of connections in the social network. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Over 2,500 positive behavior wristbands were distributed as part of the program.

Effectiveness of the Program

Disciplinary reports of student conflict at treatment schools were reduced by 25% over 1 year compared to control schools.
The program was most effective in schools where the seed group had more social referents (top 10% of nominations for that school).
Using many social referents in the intervention group is recommended for future interventions.

Methods of the Study

The study used a sample size of approximately 61 million and was conducted on US Election Day in 2010.
The study employed a randomized controlled trial with three conditions: Information Message, Social Message, and Control.
Dependent variables included clicking the "I Voted" button, clicking the polling place link, and voting in the election.

Providing no social norm information increased donations only in individuals relatively low in xenophobia.
Combining social norm information with social norm manipulation increased donations in the most xenophobic individuals.
The valuation system is a key mechanism for persuasion-induced behavior change.

The study found that the intervention could have a stronger effect on school-wide peer conflict when the person receiving the intervention is a "social referent" (someone with many connections in the social network).
Close friends in real life are more likely to interact more on Facebook, which can lead to social contagion effects.

School-Wide Intervention

The study was conducted in 56 schools in New Jersey, US, with a total of 24,191 students aged 11-15 years old.
The study examined each school's social network and randomly assigned half of the schools to an anti-conflict intervention or no intervention.
The intervention targeted specific conflict behaviors identified by the seed groups, and used a multi-pronged approach including public awareness, role models, and positive reinforcement.

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Description

Learn about a study conducted by Facebook on voter turnout during the US Election Day in 2010, involving three different conditions and various dependent variables. Explore the results and implications of the experiment.