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People who are aware of the advantages for both parties are more likely to ask for advice, study shows

Phys · · 580 words · By Eva Schissler
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What to know about People who are aware of the advantages for both parties are more likely to ask for advice, study shows

A study published in the Academy of Management Journal suggests that people are more likely to seek professional advice when they realize the advice-giver also benefits from the interaction. The research, led by Professor Anne Burmeister, involved field and online experiments with jobseekers and employees to demonstrate how reducing the 'illusion of inequity' can increase networking.

Propaganda risk 0%
Claims checked 7
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center80%
Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

People who are aware of the advantages for both parties are more likely to ask for advice, study shows Sadie Harley Scientific Editor Andrew Zinin Lead Editor Many people are reluctant to ask others for advice—for fear of being a burden or taking up…

Why it matters

Anne Burmeister at the ECONtribute Cluster of Excellence shows how this reluctance can be lowered: When people seeking advice learn that the other person involved will also benefit from the exchange, they are much more likely to seek support.

Common ground

The study "A Prosocial Perspective on Advice Seeking and Networking: How Focusing on What Advice Givers Can Gain Motivates Advice Seekers to Reach Out More" was published in the Academy of Management Journal.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

A study published in the Academy of Management Journal suggests that people are more likely to seek professional advice when they realize the advice-giver also benefits from the interaction. The research, led by Professor Anne Burmeister, involved field and online experiments with jobseekers and employees to demonstrate how reducing the 'illusion of inequity' can increase networking.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-06-people-aware-advantages-parties-advice.html

analyticsAnalysis

0%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 100%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 7 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 6
verified Verified By Reference 1
info
Claim 1: “A new study led by Professor Dr. Anne Burmeister at the ECONtribute Cluster of Excellence shows how this reluctance can be lowered: When people seeking advice learn that the other person involved will also benefit from the exchange, they are much more likely to seek support.”
SINGLE SOURCE
One web search result explicitly confirms the key finding that people who recognize the advice giver benefits are more likely to seek support and mentions the 40 percent increase. However, there is only one distinct source providing this specific study's results; other results are irrelevant.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Annelies Burmeister (25 November 1928 in Ludwigslust – 16 June 1988 in Berlin) was a German contralto and actress. Burmeister studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Weimar. She was a member of the Deu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annelies_Burmeister
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Burmeister is a surname of German origin. In zoology "Burmeister" refers to: Ernst-Gerhard Burmeister, German entomologist Hermann Burmeister (1807–1892), German zoologist also in botany "Burmeist." …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burmeister
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Cornelia Metella (c. 73 BC – after 48 BC) was the daughter of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica (who was consul in 52 BC and originally from the gens Cornelia) and his wife Aemilia. She ap…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelia_Metella
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
Claim 2: “Anne Burmeister, Professor of Organizational Behavior at the University of Cologne and member of the ECONtribute Cluster of Excellence, and Daniel Levin, Professor at Rutgers University (U.S.), wanted to find out whether behavior changes when those seeking advice are explicitly made aware of the benefits for the other party”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence for this claim contains results for other people named Anne (Anne Stiles, Anne Pomerantz) and a historical figure Annelies Burmeister, but no evidence confirming the specific professional roles or the collaboration between Anne Burmeister and Daniel Levin.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 1500s ran from January 1, 1500, to December 31, 1509.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1500s_(decade)
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web search NEUTRAL — Literature, Neurology, and Neuroscience: Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders. Co-edited and introduced by Stanley Finger, François Boller, and Anne Stiles. Elsevier’s Progress in Brain Research ser…
https://www.slu.edu/arts-and-sciences/english/-pdf/stilescv.…
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web search NEUTRAL — The stage directions in The Diary of Anne Frank describe the on-stage setting. In this, and other literary works, however, the events take place in a larger setting as well—a time and place in the wor…
https://mrsdepierro.weebly.com/uploads/3/1/5/0/31504161/8b_a…
+ 1 more evidence source
info
Claim 3: “The results suggest that the effect was particularly strong when people seeking advice approached unfamiliar people and those of higher status”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence contains general articles on personality traits and status, but nothing that confirms the specific results of the Burmeister study regarding unfamiliar people or higher status individuals.
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web search NEUTRAL — Aug 15, 2021 · This article summarizes these recent findings and explores earlier research into the links between personality and individuals' preferences for communication.
https://publications.investmentsandwealth.org/iwpublications…
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web search NEUTRAL — Dec 24, 2010 · We develop and test a multi-level interactive model of the relationships among self-monitoring, co-workers' formal and informal status, ...
https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1348/09631…
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web search NEUTRAL — This article brings together the collective insight from several leading experts on issues relating to digital and social media marketing.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026840122…
info
Claim 4: “Anne Burmeister et al, A Prosocial Perspective on Advice Seeking and Networking: How Focusing on What Advice Givers Can Gain Motivates Advice Seekers to Reach Out More, Academy of Management Journal (2026). DOI: 10.5465/amj.2024.0635”
SINGLE SOURCE
The title and a 2026 date appear in one web search result. However, there is no corroboration from a second independent source or a verified database to confirm the DOI or the specific publication details.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Wisdom, also known as sapience, is defined by psychologists as a combination of "wit and virtue," the ability to apply expert tacit and experiential knowledge, balancing intrapersonal, interpersonal a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdom
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A community is a social unit (a group of people) with one or more shared socially-significant characteristics, being place, set of norms, culture, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — DSRP is a theory and method of thinking, developed by systems theorist and cognitive scientist Derek Cabrera. It is an acronym that stands for Distinctions, Systems, Relationships, and Perspectives. C…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSRP
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 5: “The number of cases of contact being made increased by almost 40 percent.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific figure of 'almost 40 percent' is mentioned in one web search result associated with the advice-seeking study. No other independent sources confirm this specific statistic.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — 40 or forty commonly refers to: 40 (number), the natural number following 39 and preceding 41 one of the years 40 BC, AD 40, 1940, 2040 40 or forty may also refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Fortune magazine's 40 Under 40 is a list of individuals the publication considers to be the most influential young leaders for the year. The list has existed in two phases: From 1999 to 2003, the list…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40_Under_40
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This Is 40 is a 2012 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Judd Apatow and starring Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann. A "sort-of sequel" to Apatow's film Knocked Up (2007), its plot cen…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_40
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 6: “The study "A Prosocial Perspective on Advice Seeking and Networking: How Focusing on What Advice Givers Can Gain Motivates Advice Seekers to Reach Out More" was published in the Academy of Management Journal.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The title of the study appears in one web search result, but there is no independent corroboration from multiple sources or a direct link to the Academy of Management Journal in the provided evidence.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — A community is a social unit (a group of people) with one or more shared socially-significant characteristics, being place, set of norms, culture, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — DSRP is a theory and method of thinking, developed by systems theorist and cognitive scientist Derek Cabrera. It is an acronym that stands for Distinctions, Systems, Relationships, and Perspectives. C…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSRP
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Wisdom, also known as sapience, is defined by psychologists as a combination of "wit and virtue," the ability to apply expert tacit and experiential knowledge, balancing intrapersonal, interpersonal a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdom
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 7: “the researchers conducted two controlled field experiments with jobseekers who specifically asked for information on career paths, companies or sectors. In addition, four online experiments were conducted with employees from various sectors.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While web search results mention field experiments with jobseekers in Germany generally, none of the provided evidence confirms the specific methodology of 'two controlled field experiments' and 'four online experiments' for this particular study.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — We conduct a large-scale field experiment in the German labor market to investigate how information provision affects job seekers' employment prospects and ...
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00472…
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web search NEUTRAL — Oct 28, 2025 ... Participants were randomly assigned to a control group and two experimental groups, where they examined résumés of candidates together with ...
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12603955/
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web search NEUTRAL — The test was conducted on all workers (including controls) at second ... Providing advice to jobseekers at low cost: An experimental study on online advice.
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/728429
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.