Table 1 Choice architecture categories and techniques according to Münscher et al. (2016) with examples

A Decision information

A1 Translate information

Includes: reframe, simplify

Reframing call for blood donations as death-preventing rather than life-saving

A2 Make information visible

Includes: make own behaviour visible (feedback), make external information visible

Feedback about one’s own behaviour (fitness tracker), information in the form of graphics, etc. about e.g. house insulation, credit card statements, calorie intake

A3 Provide social reference point

Includes: refer to descriptive norm, refer to opinion leader

Information about the behaviour of people from one’s own peer group or people who are valued for special purposes, experts, or role models

B Decision structure

B1 Change choice defaults

Includes: set no-action default, use prompted choice

Pre-selected options that leave the freedom to select a different option (or not) such as done for organ donation or pension savings in some countries (default options), poster/banners to use stairs

B2 Change option-related effort

Includes: increase/decrease physical/financial effort

(Re) arrangements of food items in grocery stores, of menu cards in restaurants, or the presentation of food dishes at buffets so that the healthier choices are easier to reach/to choose

B3 Change range or composition of options

Includes: change categories, change grouping of options

Segregating healthy options into diverse categories

B4 Change option consequences

Includes: connect decision to benefit/cost, change social consequences of the decision

5-cent tax for a shopping bag, possibility to take part in a lottery when complying with medication or taking part in a survey

C Decision assistance

C1 Provide reminders

Get reminders

C 2 Facilitate commitment

Includes: support self-commitment/public commitment

www.stickk.com, browser apps, blocking the internet access for specific items; agreements between parents and schools