This WSU Newsline Podcast is available at http://www.wichita.edu/newslinepodcast. See the transcript below:

You’re listening to the podcast edition of the Wichita State University audio newsline. Learn more about WSU on the Web at wichita.edu.

Sending a text message leads people to lie more often than using other forms of communication, according to new research by David Xu, assistant professor in the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University, and two co-authors with the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia.

The study involved 170 students from the Sauder School performing mock stock transactions in one of four ways: face-to-face, or by video, audio or text chatting. Xu explains some of the findings.

Xu: “In this study, we found that people lied significantly less in a video channel than face-to-face. In part, this is because a video recording can be replayed.

“The second finding is that people are more honest with the video than with text. One explanation is that with the text channel, people seem more anonymous to the other party, and, second, the texts give the users the opportunity to craft a deceptive message.”

Researchers promised cash awards of up to $50 to increase participants’ involvement in the role play. “Brokers” were promised increased cash rewards for more stock sales, while “buyers” were told their cash reward would depend on the yet-to-be-determined value of the stock.

The brokers were given inside knowledge that the stock was rigged to lose half of its value. Buyers were only informed of this fact after the mock sales transaction and were asked to report whether the brokers had employed deceit to sell their stock.

Xu notes that buyers were angrier when they were lied to by texting.

Xu: “We also found that people are far more angry when they’re lied to by text. One of the reasons is that the text offers little chance of misinterpretation.”

According to this study, Xu said buyers who received information via text messages were 95 percent more likely to report deception than if they had interacted via video, 31 percent more likely to report deception when compared to face-to-face, and 18 percent more likely if the interaction was via audio chat.

Xu: “Text messaging leads people to be more deceitful when compared to other modes of communication because of the theory of feeling more anonymous.”

Xu said this kind of research has some implications for consumers to avoid problems such as online fraud, and for businesses looking to promote trust and build a good image.

Xu: “Because people lie more by texting, so when consumers make a major online purchase, it is better to set up a video call with the seller.

“Another implication is that video conferencing can help businesses make better impressions on the customers.”

The study will appear in the March edition of the Journal of Business Ethics.

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for Wichita State University.