{
  "schema_version": "1.1",
  "id": "perfect-5-star-ratings-sell-best",
  "slug": "perfect-5-star-ratings-sell-best",
  "url": "https://groundedkit.com/claims/perfect-5-star-ratings-sell-best/",
  "api_url": "https://groundedkit.com/api/claims/perfect-5-star-ratings-sell-best.json",
  "claim": "Perfect 5-star ratings sell best",
  "commonly_cited_as": "\"You need a 5.0 rating to convert\"",
  "verdict": "misquoted",
  "verdict_definition": "Primary source found, but the way it is quoted changes the subject, metric, population or precision.",
  "confidence": "medium",
  "rating": {
    "value": 2,
    "best": 5,
    "worst": 1
  },
  "origin": {
    "publisher": "Medill Spiegel Research Center, Northwestern University",
    "title": "How Online Reviews Influence Sales (first published 2017)",
    "year": "2017"
  },
  "quote": "Across product categories, we found that purchase likelihood typically peaks at ratings in the 4.0 – 4.7 range, and then begins to decrease as ratings approach 5.0.",
  "method": "Academic research center analysis of retailer review data.",
  "drift": [
    "Direction: research found purchase likelihood falls as ratings approach 5.0"
  ],
  "interest": "Academic center; works with industry research partners.",
  "safe_rephrasing": "Spiegel Research Center found purchase likelihood typically peaks at average ratings of 4.0–4.7 and declines as ratings approach a perfect 5.0.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Medill Spiegel Research Center — How Online Reviews Influence Sales",
      "url": "https://spiegel.medill.northwestern.edu/how-online-reviews-influence-sales/",
      "primary": true
    }
  ],
  "kind": "stat_check",
  "as_of": "Findings first published 2017",
  "last_checked": "2026-10-16",
  "stale": false,
  "date_reviewed": "2026-10-16",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0",
  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
}