ÜBERMAD

Rule · how

Compete or compare with others

Leaderboards, competitions or peer comparison.

Two people in checked and striped tracksuits lift kettlebells side by side, grinning at each other, a small trophy between them.

Studies (3)

  1. Paper

    Pay tied to a partner's work got online workers to do more, and sooner
    TestedHelped

    Workers who raced a partner for a bonus did more tasks on day one than workers paid alone.

    Randomised trial of 597 online workers in the US · vs workers paid only for their own tasks · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show

    TestedNo difference

    Racing a partner for a bonus did not clearly raise total work over three days, against plain pay per task.

    Randomised trial of 597 online workers in the US · vs workers paid only for their own tasks · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show

  2. Paper

    Weekly point goals and a leaderboard got drivers to hold their phones less
    TestedHelped

    With weekly point goals and a leaderboard, drivers held their phones a fifth less than with risk lessons alone.

    Large randomised trial of 1,653 US drivers who often held phones while driving · vs drivers who only got lessons on the risks · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ numbers unreliable

    UsedNo difference

    Adding small cash prizes to the point goals and leaderboard cut phone use no more than the game alone.

    Large randomised trial of 1,653 US drivers who often held phones while driving · vs the same game without cash prizes · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ numbers unreliable

  3. Paper

    Seeing your rank in a small league cut last-minute study, mostly for weaker students
    TestedMixed

    Against goals alone, seeing their league rank meant students put off logins less, mostly weak ones; top students didn't change.

    Randomised trial of 890 first-year economics students in Australia · vs students who saw goals but no ranking · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show

Often used with it