{"id":1450,"slug":"rule-support-agency-and-competence-not-choice-overload","title":"R3 — Support agency + competence (2-4 meaningful choices + positive contextual feedback); avoid choice overload and frustration; let the user DO the work","kind":"rule","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","smb-owner","candid-team"],"topics":["agency-methodology","forms-conversion","interactive-tool-mechanisms","self-determination-theory"],"reference_body":"**Rule:** Design tools to support **autonomy + competence**: (1) **2-4 meaningful choices** for the user (not 12); (2) **positive contextual feedback** when inputs succeed; (3) **let the user act** rather than auto-populating everything.\n\n**Why:** Deci-Ryan SDT ([[deci-ryan-2000-self-determination-theory-foundational]]). Patall 2008 meta ([[patall-cooper-robinson-2008-choice-intrinsic-motivation-meta]]) — choice effect modest and moderated, strongest at **2-4 choices**. Sundar-Marathe 2010 ([[sundar-marathe-2010-personalization-vs-customization-agency]]) — *customization* (user acts) > *personalization* (system acts) on the agency dimension. Vallerand-Reid 1984 ([[vallerand-reid-1984-positive-feedback-perceived-competence-mediates]]) — positive feedback increases intrinsic motivation via perceived competence.\n\n**How to apply:**\n- Limit interactive choices in any single step to **2-4**.\n- After each input, give a positive micro-confirmation (\"got it,\" ✓ icon).\n- Prefer user-supplied inputs over system-inferred defaults *when* the user can supply them without friction.\n- For collectivist-market clients flag the SDT cultural-universality caveat ([[sdt-cultural-universality-critique-hagger-2013]]).","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[{"slug":"rule-maximise-self-relevance-in-output","title":"R3 — Maximise self-relevance in the output: show the user's own number, not \"people like you average X\"; the personalization mechanism is the best-evidenced lever in the brief","kind":"rule","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"deci-ryan-2000-self-determination-theory-foundational","title":"Deci & Ryan (1985, 2000) Self-Determination Theory — intrinsic motivation supported by three needs: autonomy + competence + relatedness","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"patall-cooper-robinson-2008-choice-intrinsic-motivation-meta","title":"Patall, Cooper & Robinson (2008), Psychological Bulletin (41 studies meta) — choice enhances intrinsic motivation, effort, performance, perceived competence; moderated (2-4 choices, no extrinsic reward, children > adults)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"sundar-marathe-2010-personalization-vs-customization-agency","title":"Sundar & Marathe (2010), Human Communication Research — customization (user acts) vs personalization (system acts): the appeal of customization is tied to the user's sense of agency","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"vallerand-reid-1984-positive-feedback-perceived-competence-mediates","title":"Vallerand & Reid (1984), Journal of Sport Psychology (N=115/84) — positive feedback INCREASES while negative feedback DECREASES intrinsic motivation; perceived competence MEDIATES","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}],"incoming":[{"slug":"research-brief-engagement-mechanisms-top-up-smb-june-2026","title":"Research notes (capture-layer top-up): why interactive online tools are psychologically engaging — six additional mechanisms (June 2026)","kind":"research-notes","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"}]},"created_at":"2026-06-20T19:24:16.026Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T19:24:16.026Z"}