Research card · blue + rust
Defaults are powerful. They are not magic.
A pre-selected choice is part of the argument, not neutral furniture.
These responses improve S2W’s visual language across this project and approved S2W API surfaces. No visual is replaced or published automatically.
The effect
People are more likely to select an option when it is pre-selected as the default.
The size
A 2019 meta-analysis of 58 studies with a pooled sample of 73,675 found a substantial average default effect, alongside large variation across studies.
Why it may work
Evidence was consistent with endorsement, reduced effort and an implicit reference point among several channels.
design a default as if it is making an argument, because it probably is.
Margin note
Powerful on average does not mean identical in every context.
Source & provenance
CITED RESEARCH + S2W INTERPRETATION
Original S2W editorial object.
- Provenance type
- research summary
- Confidence
- verified research summary
Did the thought land?