Most people don't like to disclose personal information and in some cases will give
you dud data. This is more often the case when people are required to give a lot
of information at one time. What we have found at SSW is that you will get better
quality personal information at intervals and not all at once.
For example: Lets say I go to a website to download some software, but to do this
the company requires me to give my Name, Address, Phone Numbers & email address.
The likelihood of them receiving my correct details are limited as I don't know
what they will do with these details and I don't know the company at all. However,
if that same company only asked me for my user name and email
address only I would be more inclined to leave them the correct information as this
is not as intrusive and a lot quicker. I would also be more inclined to go back
to that website and download more, which is when you ask the user for that little
bit more information.
The second time round that company may ask me for my real name and a phone
number. Again this is not as daunting because as the user I have already given this
company some of my information and feel that I can trust them a bit more than the
average company.
The third time I go to download they ask me for a little bit more information, so
by the time I have visited their site to download I have effectively given that
company all my personal information.
Of course this does not guarantee that people will cease inputting dud data, it does
decrease the chances though!