Tinder and Surveys
Many bottles of anti-wrinkle cream ago, I used to be on all of the dating apps). For arbitrary reasons, I gave myself a quota of 2 dates per week. Being the overachiever I am, I often exceeded that. What can I say? I'm an ambitious woman.
Anyways.
Somewhere between one thought and the next, it dawned on me that online dating and surveys have a lot in common. Yes, you read that correctly. Between the terminology and what it takes to be successful in either endeavor, there are some clear parallels.
Refusals
First, we have the most heartbreaking example. There is always that person who is "the total package" in every friend group that seemingly never can get a date. In the survey world, this same principle exists and is called a "refusal." Simply put, they are not engaging!
Ghosting & Break-off
There is also the art form that is called "ghosting." This is where you go on a date, and you think it went well, only to never hear from the person again! Although it is nearly a socially accepted practice at this point, it's very annoying. Unfortunately, you can get ghosted while conducting a survey, too! However, a more accurate term would be "break-off." Rude.
Attention-Grabbing
On the flip-side, there are also some positive relations between the two. For example, once you sit down and the formalities are over, you want to make the date captivating and fun from the start. So you are quick to figure out your angle! In surveys, that technique is applied when the surveyors ask the most interesting question first. This is a deliberate decision to hopefully catch the attention of the person who is taking the survey.
Ask Smart Questions
Lastly, let's consider what a "good" date entails. Typically, it means you learned a lot about each other and that the person you were with showed interest by asking various questions. An excellent survey should feel the same way and is often done using multiple kinds of questions, too!
