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According to the latest research, it is more convenient for people to lie through text messages than with other forms of communication such as video chat, and face to face communication.

A new study by Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia, found that people feel more comfortable if they lie in the text, and the people who told a lie in writing, feel more frustrated.

The study was conducted among 170 students who participated in the scenario, role-playing game related to the stock market, where participants try on the role of “buyers” and “brokers”. Students joined in groups of two and offered to play the stock trading model using one of four forms of communication: test messages, audio chat, video chat and face-to-face.

Researchers have promised students cash prizes of up to $ 50, to increase their involvement in role-playing game. Here’s how it worked: “Brokers” were promised compensation, directly proportional to the level of sales, and the “buyers” were told that their pay will be determined later and will depend on the determined value of their shares.

Meanwhile, the brokers were given inside information, that because of speculation in the stock will lose value fifty percent. Shoppers learned about it only after they have already made a purchase and sales transaction, and then they were asked whether their broker cheated in the transaction.

The researchers then analyzed with the help of some form of communication has been committed the largest number of fraudulent transactions. Shoppers who received information about trades by brokers through text messages, have been deceived by more than 95%, compared with those who have spoken on the video, and a 31% increase, compared with those who have spoken face to face.

This means that brokers are more comfortable lying to their partners through text messaging. However, it is interesting to note that the brokers were told that they were the most uncomfortable to lie to customers via video chat.

“We expected a large number of cases of cheating via text messaging, but for us as a surprise that the largest number of cases of fraud will reveal through video chat. With video communication students broker turned out to be the focus of the buyer and, therefore, tried to be more honest , “- said study co-author and associate professor Ronald Tsenfetelli.

In the second part of the experiment defrauded customers were asked to rate the level of anger after they learned that they were deceived. Of those who have been deceived through text messages, up 20% of respondents reported that they were angered by the fact of deception than those who had contact with their brokers face to face. They are also 47% more likely to report their disorder compared with those who have been deceived by the video communication, and 10% more likely than those who communicated through an audio chat.

“Building rapport is when dealing face to face, which helps the body language, eye contact and other factors,” – said Tsenfetelli. ”It helps to soften the blow when you know that you lied. Text devoid of emotion and body language, so find out about the deception of it is much more unpleasant.”

Tsenfetelli believes that this knowledge can be applied to life outside the research group: “The company laid off a few years ago a lot of their employees by e-mail, and they were very indignant at this fact,” – said Tsenfetelli. ”I’m sure they’d still be upset if the news would report to them personally, but looking at the text, and realizing that they acted wrongly, they feel much worse.”