Potentials and pitfalls of increasing prosocial behavior and self-efficacy over time using an online personalized platform.

ABSTRACT:

Background

This longitudinal mixed methods experimental study aimed to better understand the interplay between digital technology exposure over time, self-efficacy, and prosocial behavior in everyday contexts.

Methods

66 psychology students tracked their daily prosocial behavior over three weeks. Additionally, half of the participants were randomly assigned to receive access to an online platform, which made personalized suggestions for prosocial actions to complete. Qualitative post-study interviews complemented quantitative measures.

Results

Platform exposure had no measurable impact beyond that of tracking over time on either prosocial behavior or self-efficacy. Tracking increased self-efficacy to perform everyday prosocial actions, but did not affect self-efficacy

SUBMITTER: Steinemann ST 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7316236 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature