You’d think it might be harder to tell lies to someone’s face than by email but recent study reported in the New Scientist suggests otherwise.
The study carried out by researcher at Cornell University tested honesty across commonly used communication technologies. Surprisingly, the lowest percentage of lies were found in emails (14 percent), while the most lies are likely to be told over the phone (37 percent) or in face-to-face communication (27 percent). Lies make up 21 percent of instant messaging.
The study concluded people were more likely to lie in “real time” when spontaneous response was called for than in recorded medium where they could be held accountable for what they say. Such research could be used by employers to determine which medium was better suited to different communication needs.
Organisational purpose playing increasingly important role
Management Editorial Team
October 22, 2026
Organisational purpose is playing an increasingly important role in helping New Zealand organisations navigate economic uncertainty, organisational change and evolving workforce expectations, new research from Hum Consulting, finds.
