In today’s survey climate, many individuals doubt the legitimacy of survey invitations. Phishing, an Internet-based fraud that tricks users into disclosing private information, has the potential to further erode the perceived legitimacy of e-mailed survey invitations and harm cooperation. However, no study has tested the effect of phishing on response rates. This article reports on a natural experiment examining phishing’s effect on survey response. University faculty and staff received an invitation to participate in an annual web survey on satisfaction with information technology (IT) services followed by a request to participate in a second “survey” ostensibly sent by another university department. However, the second survey invitation was a simulated phishing attack sent by the IT department. Analysis of response rates and the timing of responses from each of the last five years of the legitimate survey suggests that the phishing simulation dramatically reduced response compared to predictions based on previous years.

中文翻译：

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网络钓鱼池调查响应率可以吗？来自自然实验的证据

在当今的调查环境下，许多人怀疑调查邀请的合法性。网络钓鱼是一种诱骗用户披露私人信息的基于 Internet 的欺诈行为，它有可能进一步削弱通过电子邮件发送调查邀请的合法性并损害合作。但是，没有研究测试网络钓鱼对响应率的影响。本文报告了一项自然实验，该实验检查网络钓鱼对调查响应的影响。大学教职员工收到了参加关于信息技术 (IT) 服务满意度的年度网络调查的邀请，随后又被要求参加表面上由另一个大学部门发送的第二次“调查”。但是，第二次调查邀请是 IT 部门发送的模拟网络钓鱼攻击。