Behavioral UX Research Thesis

Rethinking 'Positive' Nudges: Redesigning for Authentic Support

Focus:

Goal Motivation in Long-Term User Engagement

Relevance:

Behavior-focused apps (e.g., Duolingo, fitness, goal-tracking tools)

Research Sponsor:

University of Chicago

My Role: Mixed Methods Researcher

Many products aim to help users stick with long-term goals. But when users feel discouraged, generic encouragement can backfire. I explored how digital products can better support users when they’re on the verge of giving up.

Why It Matters

Design Opportunities

Understand Why Conventional Encouragement Falls Short

Explore the emotional and psychological disconnect users experience when receiving overly positive encouragement during moments of doubt. Identify the reasons why these messages can feel dismissive or add pressure, rather than offering true support.

Design Support That Feels Empathetic and Motivating

Investigate what kinds of support messages feel validating, reduce stress, and help users re-engage with their long-term goals. These insights can guide the design of more emotionally intelligent features in behavior-focused apps that foster sustained user motivation.

Data Collection

Survey

Collected 160+ responses on goal pursuit and support preferences; included A/B-style scenario comparisons to evaluate the perceived helpfulness of different support strategies.

Pair Interviews

Conducted in-depth conversations exploring how users want to be supported during moments of doubt; used A/B-style prompts to compare emotional responses to different support types.

Data Analysis

Root Cause Analysis

Thematic Analysis

Insights

Overly positive encouragement can feel dismissive and add stress.

What works: Negative validation—empathetic, pressure-free responses that show understanding.

Products should offer customizable support modes that respect emotional complexity.

Impact

Identified emotionally resonant support strategies (e.g., negative validation) that can reduce user stress and increase retention
Provided evidence-based recommendations for designing support features that adapt to users’ emotional states
Helped inform the design of behavior-focused apps by highlighting the importance of empathy, personalization, and emotional nuance in long-term engagement