When the researchers used the word “because”, the outcome changed materially! Like, “Hey, can I jump the queue and get 5 copies please, because I’m in a rush?”.
The number of people who would now agree to let the researchers skip the queue increased by 50 percent!
But was it because of the reason? Or was it because of the word “because”?
So then the researchers added some frivolous reason. Like, “Hey, can I jump the queue and get 5 copies please, because I have to make copies?”.
And lo and behold, despite the reason itself being silly and adding no new information, about the same increase in queue-skipping permission was seen.
Incredible no? It shows how important it is, that we use the right words!