ÜBERMAD

Rule · how

Reward yourself right after

A reward that arrives immediately after doing it.

A smiling woman at a wooden table drops a folded napkin in a basket, then eats a berry from a bowl, again and again.

Studies (5)

  1. Paper

    Getting paid the moment you finish helped people start a week-long task sooner
    TestedMixed

    People paid the moment they finished started a week-long task about half a day sooner, but most finished no sooner.

    Trial of 611 students, staff and alumni of a US university · vs the same payment the day after the deadline · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ not yet checked by other scientists; unclear how groups were picked; summary claims more than the results show; many people dropped out

    TestedMixed

    Of those who finished, only people who often put things off finished sooner when paid right away.

    Trial of 611 students, staff and alumni of a US university · vs the same payment the day after the deadline · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ not yet checked by other scientists; unclear how groups were picked; summary claims more than the results show; many people dropped out

  2. Paper

    Lessons on goals, planning and self-tracking helped schoolgirls put off schoolwork less
    TestedHelped

    Girls who had eight lessons on goals, plans, tracking and rewards put off schoolwork less than usual teaching.

    Small randomised trial of 77 schoolgirls in Tabriz, Iran · vs a class that kept its usual teaching · they rated themselves · ⚠ whole groups were assigned, not people; results look too good to be true

  3. Paper

    Girls trained against feeling helpless said they put off schoolwork less, but started higher
    TestedHelped

    Girls trained on thoughts, goals and stress put off schoolwork less than the waiting group, but started far higher.

    Small randomised trial of 30 teenage girls who put off schoolwork · vs girls who were still waiting · they rated themselves · ⚠ numbers unreliable; groups differed at the start; summary claims more than the results show

  4. Paper

    Soap with a toy inside didn't clearly change how often caregivers washed hands
    TestedNo difference

    A toy inside the kids' soap didn't clearly change how often carers washed their hands, against a toy beside it.

    Randomised trial of 229 caregivers in a poor South African community · vs the same soap with the toy beside it · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ student thesis, not checked by other scientists; numbers unreliable; summary claims more than the results show

  5. Paper

    A $1 bonus for fresh produce about doubled purchases, and some of it lasted
    TestedHelped

    Shoppers offered an extra $1 for 5 cups of produce bought about 3.4 cups a trip, against 1.6 without it.

    Randomised trial of 222 shoppers at a Chicago neighbourhood grocery store · vs shoppers with the same store card but no bonus · behaviour was recorded · ⚠ summary claims more than the results show; numbers unreliable; many people dropped out

Often used with it