Buyer behavior · Randomized field experiment introducing optional, visible verification on an online dating platform without ratings/reviews.
Optional Verification and Signaling in Online Matching Markets: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment
Information Systems Research · 2023
Summary
High-type men were more likely to verify, while medium-type women were most likely; verified users received more contacts from higher-type users, became more proactive, and voluntary verification facilitated desirable matching outcomes.
For your marketing
Possible founder application
Use it as a behavioral mechanism or experiment-design reference, not a direct forecast for a SaaS funnel.
Reported result
What the study found
High-type men were more likely to verify, while medium-type women were most likely; verified users received more contacts from higher-type users, became more proactive, and voluntary verification facilitated desirable matching outcomes.
Research question
What the authors investigated
Who opts into optional verification, and does visible verification improve matching outcomes?
Design
Randomized field experiment introducing optional, visible verification on an online dating platform without ratings/reviews.
Sample and setting
Users on both sides of a leading online dating platform; self-disclosed profiles and voluntary verification.
Scope and transfer
Limitations to keep in view
The study is one dating platform with no reputation mechanisms and self-disclosed information; its gendered signaling results may not transfer to other matching or transactional marketplaces.
Research sources
Publisher abstract states the dating-platform randomized field experiment, side-specific opt-in patterns, contacts, proactivity and platform-level matching result. Direct publisher-page retrieval was recorded on 2026-10-09; this profile uses publisher metadata/abstract and does not claim independent review of unavailable full text.