Friday, January 15, 2010

How provosts think about incentives

Michigan faculty were asked by our provost to complete a new "work-life" survey this week, with this incentive:
The survey will be worth your time. We expect the data to provide a sound basis for recommendations to improve academic careers and working conditions here on campus. Further, you may win one of five $100 Borders gift cards, although you need not participate to be eligible.
One suspects the incentive would work better were it conditioned on actually completing the survey.

Hat tip: Charlie Brown

1 comment:

Jess said...

I'm betting that making you eligible for the raffle whether or not you complete the survey is an IRB requirement...I know that for our projects, we can't make payments contingent on participation.