Barnum Effect

Researchers tried to stop you in the street. They asked for a few minutes to answer a survey but only 29% of people agreed to participate.

The researchers then used the Barnum effect. They stopped a second sample of individuals and began the interaction with the question ‘Do you consider yourself a helpful person?’

Nearly everyone said yes. In that moment, after the subjects had confirmed their helpful nature, the researchers then asked if they’d take part in the survey. Now, 77% of people volunteered.

You can boost survey participation by 3 times simply by asking a Barnum effect question.