Default settings

What are default settings?

Default settings are the options that apply unless a person changes them. They can concern a device, a service, or an enrollment process.

How default settings influence choices

A meta-analysis by Jachimowicz and colleagues (2019) found that defaults often influence choices, with substantial variation. Effort, perceived recommendation, and attachment to the current state are possible explanations.

Default Settings Example: Retirement Enrollment

Madrian and Shea (2001) found higher retirement-plan participation after automatic enrollment at a company. Many employees also stayed at the default contribution and investment allocation.

What a default changes

Participation is distinct from contribution size and financial wellbeing. Likewise, a recorded organ-donation preference is not the same outcome as an actual donation.

Why defaults matter

Choosing a default means deciding what happens when someone does nothing. Specify the default and the outcome being measured. A preselected option does not determine every choice, reveal every person’s preference, or establish that the resulting outcome benefits each user. Alternatives should be visible and practical to select.