Effort: Medium
What to notice
Read recommendation reasons and access alternatives or decline from the same place.
Where it fits
- Fits
- People receiving assessment-based service recommendations.
- Use it when
- When recommendations and alternatives can be compared on equal terms.
- Avoid it when
- When undisclosed penalties apply to selecting alternatives.
How to build it
- State recommendation criteria and missing information.
- Place access to alternatives alongside the recommendation.
- Retain entered requirements when changing candidates.
Measure
- Main metric
- Share of eligible comparers selecting a suitable option with understanding
- Guardrail
- Misunderstood recommendations and lost input during changes
- How to measure
- Allocate comparison groups before exposure and use equal follow-up and eligibility. Track Share of eligible comparers selecting a suitable option with understanding alongside Misunderstood recommendations and lost input during changes.
When it backfires
Do not repeatedly challenge users who decline a recommendation.
Alternatives
Theory behind it
Meaningful choice
Choice can support motivation, with effects depending on what is chosen and under which conditions.
Well supported
Psychological reactance
Freedom-threatening messages can prompt anger and counterargument.
Well supported
Evidence limits: An editorial web application; conversion effects on this interface are unmeasured. Do not turn an average meta-analytic result into an optimal option count or conversion forecast. Avoid illusory choice and unwanted profiling.