Topic: Yelp ratings get better when they cost something
Cook My Own Breakfast started this discussion 6 years ago#89,651
An international team of researchers tested the idea that free online ratings are less trustworthy than those that have some cost to them, drawing from the ecological theory known as "costly signaling theory."
The theory suggests that if leaving a review carries some price—whether money or time or energy—it will result in more accurate ratings. In ecology, costly signaling theory argues that displays that "cost" more—like elaborate peacock tails, or strenuous displays of hunger from baby birds—are more likely to reflect reality. A colorful tail denotes a healthy peacock, and a chick with a full belly won't waste the energy to shout for more food.