Yale Study Reveals Audio Quality's Impact on Social Judgments in Video Calls

Research finds poor microphone quality leads to negative perceptions of intelligence, credibility, and desirability, with implications for socioeconomic bias.

A Yale University study published on March 24, 2025, shows that poor audio quality during video calls negatively affects perceptions of intelligence, credibility, hireability, and romantic desirability.
The study conducted six experiments with over 5,100 participants, demonstrating that sound quality alone, independent of content, drives these social judgments.
Researchers found that biases occur regardless of the speaker's gender, accent, or whether the voice is human or computerized.
The findings highlight potential socioeconomic biases, as access to high-quality microphones often correlates with financial resources.
Experts recommend testing and improving microphone quality for critical interactions, such as job interviews or online dating, to mitigate these biases.