Envision as Choice Architecture: Can Smarter Defaults Lead to More Sustainable Designs?

摘要

Like any decision making framework, the Envision rating system has embedded "choice architecture"; for instance, some options are presented before others, options are grouped together, and some are even pre-selected. Whether intentionally designed to do so or not, choice architecture influences the decisions which are made. In our research, we are examining how Envision's current choice architecture, as well as adjustments to it, might help infrastructure stakeholders choose more sustainable options. In this paper, we draw from behavioral science literature to describe and categorize choice architecture in Envision. We then explore whether changes to defaults, one form of choice architecture, may impact design outcomes. The current default in each category of Envision is zero points, and projects can earn points by improving upon industry norms. We hypothesize that a more ambitious default will lead to higher point scores and a more sustainable design. Our rationale is supported by query theory, in which choices are made based on a linear series of questions and these questions are dependent on the starting point, or default. Research in behavioral economics and consumer decisions have shown that simply changing defaults can lead to drastically different decisions. In this paper, we share our methods and preliminary findings from the study of defaults. Then we describe other choice architecture interventions, which warrant further study as they may influence decisions made using the Envision rating system.