Civil Society

The SPARQ Solutions Catalog is an online library of scientifically tested fixes to a wide variety of social issues and conflicts.

Easily searchable and practitioner-focused, it provides a curated set of evidence-based behavioral nudges in education, health, law & justice, peace & conflict, relationships, parenting, and the environment.

Civil Society Conflict Resolution Criminal Justice Economic Development Education Environment Health Parenting Relationships

Lessen Prejudice With Teamwork

Problem: People from different social groups tend to fear and mistrust one another.

Solution: Teaming up as equals and collaborating towards a common goal reduces prejudice between people with different backgrounds.

Civil Society, Conflict Resolution, Relationships

To Help Groups Like Each Other, Combine Them

Problem: People from different cultural groups often dislike and discriminate against one another.

Solution: When people from different social groups think of each other as belonging to one larger group, they like each other more.

Bias, Civil Society, Relationships

Moral Quotes Keep Workplaces Ethical

Problem: People sometimes lie to get ahead.

Solution: Adding moral quotes to e-mail signatures primes recipients to act more honestly.

Civil Society, Relationships

Take Time to Be a Good Samaritan

Man laying on the ground in need of help

Problem: People often turn a blind eye to others in need.

Solution: Reduce time pressure to get people to help.

^{Civil Society}

Harry Potter and the Elixir of Empathy

Problem: People develop prejudice at a young age.

Solution: Reading about fictional characters who show empathy for marginalized groups helps children become more empathetic in real life.

^{Civil Society, Conflict Resolution, Education}

Keep an Eye on Bad Behavior

Problem: People misbehave when no one is looking.

Solution: People behave better when they feel they’re being watched.

Civil Society

Help Immigrants by Showing How 'They' Are 'We'

Problem: In the last four decades, the worldwide immigrant population has more than doubled. Many native-borns view their new neighbors as outsiders, and so do not help them, which can lead immigrants to feel "culturally homeless."

Solution: Showing native-borns how they are similar to immigrants inspires the former to offer aid to the latter.

Civil Society, Conflict Resolution

Diverse Juries Make Better Decisions

Problem: Racial disparities in the justice system disproportionately affect Black people.

Solution: Juries make better decisions when they’re racially diverse.

Bias, Civil Society, Criminal Justice

'Opt Out' Policies Increase Organ Donation

Problem: According to the American Transplant Foundation, 18 people die every day in the United States for want of an organ transplant, and some 122,344 people are waiting for a donated organ.

Solution: Changing U.S. policies so that people’s organs are automatically donated when they die—rather than requiring people to “opt in” to donating their organs while they are still alive—may lead to more organ donations and more lives saved.

Civil Society, Health

Pointing Out Hypocrisy Can Spur Social Change

Problem: People who value equality fail to support civil rights.

Solution: Making people aware that their values and behaviors do not align motivates them to change their ways.

Civil Society, Conflict Resolution

Making Friends Across Racial Lines Lowers Prejudice

Problem: We are often uneasy around people of other races.

Solution: Befriending just one person of a different race lowers anxiety and prejudice and makes it easier to cross racial boundaries in the future.

Civil Society, Conflict Resolution, Relationships

Don't Just Vote, Be a Voter

Along with chalk letters, a person's shoes make the letter "v" to spell out the word "vote"

Problem: Most eligible American voters don’t vote in most elections.

Solution: Messages about “being a voter,” rather than just “voting,” increase registration and turnout in state and national elections.

Civil Society

Facebook Mobilizes the Masses

Screenshot from Facebook: Find your polling place on the US Politics Page and click the "I Voted" button to tell your friends you voted

Problem: Many Americans don't vote.

Solution: Online social networks like Facebook can easily and cheaply send thousands of people to the voting booth.

Civil Society

Civil Society

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