I’d just point out from the perspective of running a research org that has produced multiple posts that win the Prize (Rethink Priorities), I do find the Prize to be very motivating and really value getting a quick “elite commonsense” take on whether our research is valuable.
(Disclaimer: I am also a judge in this contest but I do not vote on Rethink Priorities content.)
I was definitely motivated to invest more time and effort by the hope of winning the prize (along with the satisfaction of getting front page with a lot of karma).
Anecdotally, I’ve heard from a few other winners and authors that the Prize is a motivating factor to spend more time/effort on posts, but I couldn’t find public statements to that effect.
Is there any data on how prize winners generally feel about winning? Does the prize help motivate them to either write the material or post it here?
I’d just point out from the perspective of running a research org that has produced multiple posts that win the Prize (Rethink Priorities), I do find the Prize to be very motivating and really value getting a quick “elite commonsense” take on whether our research is valuable.
(Disclaimer: I am also a judge in this contest but I do not vote on Rethink Priorities content.)
One direct example, from a December winner:
Anecdotally, I’ve heard from a few other winners and authors that the Prize is a motivating factor to spend more time/effort on posts, but I couldn’t find public statements to that effect.