More People So Bold Lying Through SMS

Jakarta, Communicating via text message or SMS to increase the likelihood of lying. The researchers found that instead of communicating via video or face to face, people more likely to lie through SMS messages. According to researchers, it is because the liar does not feel is being observed.

The study was led by David Jingjun Xu, assistant professor of Business Wichita State University School of Business at Wichita, Kansas. Working with colleagues at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada, Professor Xu UBC students asked 170 people to trade in counterfeit shares in person, by video or by sending an SMS.

Participants who act as brokers were told they would receive a cash prize if the sale of its shares rose. They were also informed that they would sell the shares would decline at half the price.

In the meantime, buyers were told they would receive cash depending on the value of its stock, but were not given any information before the transaction.

After the trade completed, the buyer asked if the broker has been deceiving them or not. After checking the broker is considered a liar, the researchers take into account the form of communication that has been used by the broker in the transaction.

Health24.com study reported on Tuesday (21/2/20120 reveals that buyers are informed via SMS message has a 95% greater likelihood deceived rather than a buyer who claimed to communicate via video.

They are also 31% more likely to admit being deceived than buyers who transact directly and 18% more likely to be deceived than buyers who trade through telephone conversations.

In a report published Journal of Business Ethics, the researchers say that the reduction in the possibility of fraud in video communication may be because the video can make people feel as if being observed.

Researchers call this "spotlight effect". Xu's team also believes that these findings could help consumers to avoid negative events such as online fraud.