Rabbits and study habits: a field experiment on pacesetters and study time

In a field experiment with 309 students, I elicit study goals and plans and use these to construct individualized pacesetters (rabbits). Pacesetters are moving reference points that visualize the preferred study pace of the present self by moving according to the initial plan. I develop a platform to measure study time and to display the pacesetters. Falling behind the pacesetter confronts students with their procrastination. I find that students have more ambitious goals when they set a pacesetter, but fall behind and are less likely to reach their goals. The pacesetter has no impact on study time and learning outcomes.