A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Danger of Slippery Slopes in Nudge Research
Authors: Siipi, Helena
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publishing place: DORDRECHT
Publication year: 2024
Journal: Journal of Academic Ethics
Journal name in source: Journal of Academic Ethics
Journal acronym: J ACAD ETHICS
Number of pages: 21
ISSN: 1570-1727
eISSN: 1572-8544
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-024-09568-x
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-024-09568-x
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/470777663
Nudges are a way to steer people's behavior through changes in how choices are presented. Nudge research has been incorporated into public policy in many countries, and nudge research, thus, has the potential to directly influence societies and individuals. As a result, research ethics for nudge research is needed to ensure that nudges developed are not instances of unethical manipulation of people. In this paper, I argue that two types of slippery slopes from ethically fine nudges to ethically problematic ones can take place in nudge research. The conceptual slippery slope follows from (1) the broad way of defining nudges, (2) the multitude of different ways of understanding manipulation of people, (3) many manipulation definitions implying that some nudges are manipulative, and (4) some forms of manipulation of people being prima facie wrong. The empirical slippery slope rests, first, on the possibility of small steps from ethically acceptable to wrong nudges, and second, on the cognitive limits typical to human beings (including nudge researchers). Both slippery slope arguments imply the need to of nudge researchers to create so-called firebreaks. The firebreaks can take the form of ethical justifications. To avoid slippery slopes, certain types of arguments should be excluded from these justifications.
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Funding information in the publication:
This contribution was written in the context of a research project that received funding from the Strategic Research Council at the Academy of Finland (grant number 335186). Open Access funding provided by University of Turku (including Turku University Central Hospital).
