More Perspectives on IKEA Effect Bias
by Darren Hood
There are over 100 cognitive biases at work in the digital world. Confirmation bias is when someone only gravitates and listens to things that are aligned with what they already believe or want to hear. With hindsight bias, after something takes place, a person behaves as if they knew what was going to happen all along when they really had no idea. When a person operates under the false consensus bias, they falsely assume others share their sentiments, resulting in overestimating the value and accuracy of said sentiments.
They all carry consequences, but one of extreme importance (and the focal point of our coverage today) is what’s known as The IKEA Effect. According to the folks at The Decision Lab, this is where “people value items more highly if they belong to them — or even if they just feel a sense of ownership over them.”
Here’s a list of some problems caused by IKEA Effect bias:
- Objectivity is abandoned
- Critical thinking is not applied fully or properly
- People refuse to give credit where it is due
- Blind devotion
- The refusal to examine things ethically and thoroughly
- Unjustifiable endorsement and overvaluation
- Fosters illogical modes of operation
- Denial
- Toxic positivity
To overcome IKEA Effect bias, being ethical is the key. One must strive to be objective at all costs. Subject your recommendations to validation (i.e., research). When you research, don’t frame questions and tasks to generate the response you seek. Analyze and synthesize data properly. If you went through a program, school, or UX bootcamp, don’t fudge your sentiment about or commitment to the resource. Be truthful. Face the truth (good or bad) and share your findings as necessary and with all transparency.
Conclusion
You will find that accurately ascribing value and seeing something for what it is will regularly pave the way for proceeding the right way, setting proper expectations, and communicating more effectively with others. These are much better options than thinking or assuming something is wonderful just because you created it, attended it, spoke it, or paid for it.
For your convenience, here’s a list of additional information about IKEA Effect bias:
About Darren
Darren Hood is a 28+ year UX practitioner with a broad professional footprint that spans several types of B2B and B2C operations. In addition to having served as a UX manager, individual contributor, and freelancer in the business world, Darren serves or has served as an adjunct professor for such institutions as Michigan State University, UCLA, Brandeis University, Lawrence Tech University, Kent State University, and Harrisburg University. He is also one of the authors featured in “97 Things Every UX Practitioner Should Know.” He also regularly speaks at conferences and mentors people around the world.
You can hear more from the Darren by checking out the KaizenUX Medium page, the KaizenUX YouTube channel, or listening to The World of UX with Darren Hood wherever podcasts are available.
Visit KaizenTees to check out my UX ≠ UI merch.
