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I Solemnly Swear I'm Up To Good: A Megastudy Investigating the Effectiveness of Honesty Oaths on Curbing Dishonesty

Author

Listed:
  • Janis Zickfeld

    (Aarhus University [Aarhus])

  • Karolina Scigala

    (Aarhus University [Aarhus])

  • Christian Elbaek

    (Aarhus University [Aarhus])

  • John Michael

    (UNIMI - Università degli Studi di Milano = University of Milan)

  • Mathilde Tønning Tønnesen

    (Aarhus University [Aarhus])

  • Gabriel Levy

    (NTNU University Museum [Trondheim] - NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology [Trondheim] - NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Shahar Ayal

    (RUNI - Reichman University [Herzliya])

  • Isabel Thielmann

    (Max-Planck-Institut)

  • Laila Nockur

    (Aarhus University [Aarhus])

  • Eyal Peer

    (HUJ - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Valerio Capraro

    (UNIMIB - Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca = University of Milano-Bicocca)

  • Rachel Barkan

    (BGU - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev)

  • Simen Bø

    (Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration - Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration)

  • Štěpán Bahník

    (VSE - Prague University of Economics and Business)

  • Daniele Nosenzo

    (Aarhus University [Aarhus])

  • Ralph Hertwig

    (Max Planck Institute for Human Development - Max-Planck-Gesellschaft)

  • Nina Mazar

    (BU - Boston University [Boston])

  • Alexa Weiss

    (Universität Bielefeld = Bielefeld University)

  • Ann-Kathrin Koessler

    (Leibniz Universität Hannover=Leibniz University Hannover)

  • Ronit Montal-Rosenberg

    (HUJ - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Sebastian Hafenbrädl

    (IESE Business School - IESE Business School)

  • Yngwie Asbjørn Nielsen

    (Aarhus University [Aarhus])

  • Patricia Kanngiesser

    (University of Plymouth)

  • Simon Schindler

    (Federal University of Applied Administrative Services, Berlin)

  • Philipp Gerlach

    (Fresenius University, Hamburg)

  • Nils Köbis

    (Max Planck Institute for Human Development - Max-Planck-Gesellschaft)

  • Nicolas Jacquemet

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Marek Albert Vranka

    (Charles University, Faculty of Education [Prague])

  • Dan Ariely

    (Duke University [Durham])

  • Jareef Martuza

    (Department of Strategy and Management, Norwegian School of Economics)

  • Yuval Feldman

    (Bar-Ilan University [Israël])

  • Michal Bialek

    (UWr - University of Wrocław [Poland])

  • Jan Kristian Woike

    (University of Plymouth)

  • Zoe Rahwan

    (Max Planck Institute for Human Development - Max-Planck-Gesellschaft)

  • Alicia Seidl

    (Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law = Max Planck institut zur erforschung von kriminalität sicherheit und recht)

  • Eileen Chou

    (University of Virginia)

  • Agne Kajackaite

    (UNIMI - Università degli Studi di Milano = University of Milan)

  • Simeon Schudy

    (Universität Ulm - Ulm University [Ulm, Allemagne])

  • Ulrich Glogowsky

    (JKU - University of Linz - Johannes Kepler Universität Linz)

  • Anna Czarna

    (UJ - Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie = Jagiellonian University)

  • Stefan Pfattheicher

    (Aarhus University [Aarhus])

  • Panagiotis Mitkidis

    (Aarhus University [Aarhus])

Abstract

Dishonest behaviors such as tax evasion impose significant societal costs. Ex-ante honesty oaths—commitments to honesty before action—have been proposed as useful interventions to counteract dishonest behavior, 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 in which 21,506 UK and US participants played an incentivized tax evasion game. 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, but experts' predictions were more accurate. In conclusion, honesty oaths can be effective in curbing dishonesty but their effectiveness varies depending on content. These findings can help design impactful interventions to curb dishonesty.

Suggested Citation

  • Janis Zickfeld & Karolina Scigala & Christian Elbaek & John Michael & Mathilde Tønning Tønnesen & Gabriel Levy & Shahar Ayal & Isabel Thielmann & Laila Nockur & Eyal Peer & Valerio Capraro & Rachel Ba, 2024. "I Solemnly Swear I'm Up To Good: A Megastudy Investigating the Effectiveness of Honesty Oaths on Curbing Dishonesty," Working Papers halshs-04555561, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-04555561
    DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/hctxe
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-04555561
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