Resit Paper

Question 1

What makes the school situation appropriate for the nudge

Answer 1

1. No feedback for the children to wash their hands
2. The consequences of not washing are delayed
3. The action of not washing your hands and illness is not visible
4. Toilet visits are so infrequent that a behavior change can’t be learned

Question 2

Usually, nudges are criticized for not changing behavior long term. Why is the behavior change here stable over time?

Answer 2

Nudge explanation:
1. Nudge functioned as a constant reminder for the children.
2. Transparent nudging = expected behavior change is visible
- children can figure out that the station wants them to wash their hands more, which supports their competence.

Other explanations
1. The infrastructure change had a big influence already.
2. The teacher could have influenced the children to use the station.

Also, 5 months with a break in between can not fully support long-term effects.

Question 3

Nudges use a repertoire of mechanisms. Which are used here?

Answer 3

1. Reminder = after the toileting event
2. Simplification = of engaging in the process
3. Social norms = of painting steps and hands from other children, the camera activates injunctive norms (what do the researcher want us to do)
4. Lower the friction = of washing your hands appropriately
5. Salience = make the wanted behavior more visible to the children
6. Framing of the washing station

Question 4

Reflect on the potential health disparities of primary school children in a rural area context.

Answer 4

1. Rural areas in developing countries show often lower:
   - employment, education, and financial support (income, supplies)

Question 5

Explain the implementation of the nudge with the nudge theory toolkit.

Answer 5

1. Understand and validate the required change
   - observing the illnesses resulting in bad handwashing behavior
2. Check for obstacles
   - if the schools have access to water
3. Check for unhelpful existing nudges
   - previous interventions that focused on hand washing
4. Remove obstacles and provide social support
   - install handwashing stations
5. Explore which environmental/circumstantial factors can be
   altered/introduced (=the nudge)
   - paint the handwashing station to make it attractive to use

Question 6

What are the reasons besides the nudge that influenced the children to wash their hands?

Answer 6

1. The infrastructure change itself changes first the behavior immediately on its own, and the excitement over the general opportunity.
2. Influenced by their knowledge of being observed the behavior was influenced.

Question 7

What Mediator between the economical status of rural areas and Health is targeted by the change in infrastructure?

Answer 7

1. Institutional = changing the school environment
2. Individual = educating the children by giving them innovation (washing station) they can interact with

Question 8

Why is the simultaneous nudge the most effective one?

Answer 8

1. Nudge in general constant reminder to the children.
2. Simultaneous works better because a better connection between intervention and the handwashing station -> bc building while the children were there
3. Interaction between children and people building the handwashing station
4. observing how the cameras were installed