College student Quote by Chip Heath
““The psychologists Amos Tversky and Eldar Shafir offered college students a five-dollar reward for filling out a survey. When given a five-day deadline, 66% of the students completed the survey and claimed their rewards. When given no deadline, only 25% ever collected their money.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Made to Stick, Chapter on Incentives by Chip Heath and Dan Heath, 2007
People respond more to deadlines than to rewards alone; urgency drives action more effectively than monetary incentives.
In simple terms: Deadlines motivate more than money.
Key Takeaway
Set clear deadlines to boost participation.
Themes
motivation
behavior
incentives
deadlines
psychology
Mood
practical
insightful
strategic
Type
nonfiction
business
When to use this quote
- project management
- education
- marketing campaigns
- health initiatives
Key Concepts
temporal scarcity
reward systems
behavioral economics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can deadlines be ethically applied?
- What alternative motivators exist?
A Different Perspective
Rewards without urgency may be ignored; not all tasks suit deadlines.
