Is giving people a sense of agency better than giving them cash? (with Richard Sedlmayr)

Mar 8, 2023 59m 38s 15 insights Episode Page ↗
Spencer Greenberg speaks with Richard Sadelmeier about human agency. Richard, a funder, explains how empowering individuals with tailored information and shaping mental models can effectively reduce poverty, advocating for iterative, research-driven implementation.
Actionable Insights

1. Update Constraining Mental Models

Design interventions to update individuals’ mental models about themselves, their surroundings, and their future, particularly focusing on those that are most constraining. This approach aims to unlock potential by shifting fundamental beliefs and perspectives.

2. Leverage Role Models and Narratives

Introduce individuals to compelling role models and narratives that challenge existing limiting beliefs and help them reimagine their potential. This approach, exemplified by girls watching an inspirational movie, can significantly impact self-conception and motivation.

3. Provide Actionable, Customized Data

Offer individuals specific data relevant to their decisions, especially when they might have misconceptions, to help them optimize their choices and improve outcomes. For example, informing students about the actual income returns to finishing high school can significantly reduce dropout rates.

4. Understand Context for Interventions

Before implementing information-based interventions, conduct thorough research to understand the target audience’s existing beliefs, motivations, and capabilities. This ensures the information provided addresses a genuine need or misconception, increasing its effectiveness.

5. Time Interventions to Key Decisions

Identify critical decision points in individuals’ lives and deliver targeted information or support when it is most relevant and actionable. This ensures that insights address immediate needs and influence high-stakes choices, such as preparing for college or making birth plans.

6. Implement Lean Learning Iteration

For social interventions, adopt a continuous “lean learning” approach, integrating research and action in a tight loop. This means constantly iterating, testing, and improving interventions based on real-time feedback, similar to product development.

7. Integrate Randomization in Implementation

Embed randomization and A/B testing directly into the rollout of products or interventions to continuously gather data and learn what works best. This allows for ongoing optimization and ensures that improvements are applied to benefit all users.

8. Beyond Trivial A/B Testing

Utilize A/B testing and embedded experiments to gain substantial knowledge beyond simple optimizations like button colors. Focus on learning how to effectively design and improve programs to achieve specific social outcomes, generating powerful, actionable insights.

9. Align Iteration with True Impact

When iterating on non-profit programs, actively guard against optimizing for easily measurable metrics or donor preferences instead of genuine social impact. Strive to connect feedback loops to ultimate outcomes, even if they are more challenging to quantify.

10. Improve Existing Cash Transfers

Instead of only starting new cash transfer initiatives, prioritize improving the design and framing of existing large-scale government cash transfer programs. Consider how narratives and meaning associated with these transfers can significantly amplify their impact.

11. Fund Capable Learning Organizations

Prioritize funding organizations that have proven their capability to implement and continuously improve agency-based interventions, rather than just funding specific, discrete solutions. This approach supports the development of “learning muscles” for sustained and evolving impact.

12. Bayesian Approach to Funding Ideas

When assessing new intervention ideas, use a Bayesian approach by extrapolating from existing knowledge and similar successful interventions, even if direct evidence is scarce. This helps determine which ideas are promising enough to warrant further testing and investment.

13. Answer Life-Changing Questions

Visit clearerthinking.org to answer free, scientifically-backed “life changing questions” designed to provide valuable self-insights. These questions can also be used as a physical card deck to foster deeper connections with friends and family.

14. Use MindEase for Stress/Anxiety

If experiencing stress or anxiety, use the free MindEase app (mindease.io) for scientifically proven, interactive exercises that help calm your mind in under 10 minutes. The app tailors to your situation, measures progress, and provides insights into effective techniques.

15. Manage Social Media Post Anxiety

To reduce anxiety when posting on social media, be extra careful with critiques and proofread for mistakes. If a mistake is found, fix it promptly and acknowledge the correction to ease your mind.