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The Non-Monotonic Effect of Deadlines on Task Completion

Author

Listed:
  • Knowles, Stephen
  • Servátka, Maroš
  • Sullivan, Trudy
  • Genç, Murat

Abstract

We conduct a field experiment to test the non-monotonic effect of deadline length on task completion. Participants are invited to complete an online survey in which a donation goes to charity. They are given either one week, one month or no deadline to respond. Responses are lowest for the one-month deadline and highest when no deadline is specified. No deadline and the one-week deadline feature a large number of early responses, while providing a one-month deadline appears to give people permission to procrastinate. If they are inattentive, they might forget to complete the task.

Suggested Citation

  • Knowles, Stephen & Servátka, Maroš & Sullivan, Trudy & Genç, Murat, 2021. "The Non-Monotonic Effect of Deadlines on Task Completion," MPRA Paper 109484, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:109484
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    deadlines; task completion; charitable tasks; charitable giving; inattention; procrastination; forgetting; field experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers

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