Item Location, the Interviewer–Respondent Interaction, and Responses to Battery Questions in Telephone Surveys

Olson, Kristen; Smyth, Jolene D.; Cochran, Beth

doi:10.1177/0081175018778299

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…A/D and SD scales may perform differently, however, across self-administered and interviewer-administered modes. In visual modes like mail, respondents can look back to the question and scale labels as needed, but in aural modes like telephone, respondents have to hold this information in working memory while formulating their answers (Christian et al, 2007; de Leeuw, 2005; Dillman et al, 2014; Olson et al, 2018). This extra effort may increase the tendency to acquiesce on questions with A/D scales due to satisficing behaviors (Krosnick, 1991).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are self-description scales better than agree/disagree scales?

Timbrook

Smyth²,

Olson

2020

International Journal of Market Research

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Questions using agree/disagree (A/D) scales are ubiquitous in survey research because they save time and space on questionnaires through display in grids, but they have also been criticized for being prone to acquiescent reports. Alternatively, questions using self-description (SD) scales (asking respondents how well a statement describes them from Completely to Not at All) can also be presented in grids or with a common question stem, and by omitting the word agree, SD scales may reduce acquiescence. However, no research has examined how response patterns may differ across A/D and SD scales. In this article, we compare survey estimates, item nonresponse and nondifferentiation across these two types of scales in a mail survey. We find that SD scales outperform A/D scales for non-socially desirable questions that ask about positive topics. For questions that ask about negative topics, we find that estimates for SD items are significantly more negative than A/D items. This may occur because the SD scale is unipolar and has only one negative response option ( Not at All), whereas the bipolar A/D scale has two negative response options ( Disagree and Strongly Disagree). We recommend that researchers use SD scales for non-socially desirable positive valence questions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are self-description scales better than agree/disagree scales?

Timbrook

Smyth²,

Olson

2020

International Journal of Market Research

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“…Se definen como preguntas de batería una serie de preguntas "ligadas" que se complementan entre sí con el fin de profundizar en los aspectos objeto de estudio. Se trata de cuestiones que utilizan la misma formulación para preguntar sobre aspectos diferentes utilizando las mismas opciones de respuesta (Olson, Smyth y Cochran 2018;Azofra 1999). Otros expertos las definen como "un conjunto de preguntas encadenadas, que se complementan entre sí al estar referidas a una misma temática y utilizar la misma respuesta" (Díaz de Rada 2001: 87).…”

Section: Definición Conceptualunclassified

Escalas en preguntas de batería en encuestas telefónicas: ¿cambian las respuestas cuando las preguntas se plantean de forma independiente?

Díaz de Rada

2023

Rev. int. sociol.

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Este trabajo versa sobre las denominadas ‘preguntas de batería’, un conjunto de preguntas encadenadas, que se complementan entre sí al estar referidas a una misma temática y utilizar la misma respuesta. Estas preguntas, muy habituales en los cuestionarios, presentan ventajas e inconvenientes frente a la descomposición de los diferentes elementos en preguntas independientes. El presente trabajo utiliza una encuesta telefónica a población general para comprobar hasta qué punto las preguntas que forman parte de una batería se responden peor que cuando se trata de preguntas independientes. Se han considerado tres preguntas, una actitudinal y dos de comportamiento, todas ellas con cinco opciones de respuesta. La distribución de las preguntas, unida a la utilización de siete indicadores de calidad en la respuesta, muestra que las preguntas de batería no se responden peor que cuando las mismas preguntas son consideradas de forma independiente.

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“…The use of batteries and their variations raises issues of structure, wording, question specifications, and implementation. In interviewer-administered instruments, items in batteries have relatively lower reliability (Alwin 2007), possibly because question scripts are incomplete; interviewers are not trained to administer batteries in standardized ways, and they improvise (Olson et al 2018a), a finding that supports randomizing items in a battery (Olson et al 2018a).…”

Section: Question Structure: Batteries Grids and Checklistsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in the Science of Asking Questions

Schaeffer

Dykema

2020

Annu. Rev. Sociol.

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In recent decades, research about survey questions has emphasized decision-based approaches. Current research focuses on identifying and systematizing characteristics of questions that are key in researchers’ decisions. We describe important classes of decisions and question characteristics: topic, type of question (e.g., event or behavior, evaluation or judgment), response dimension (e.g., occurrence, frequency, intensity), conceptualization and operationalization of the target object (e.g., how to label the object being asked about and the response dimension), question structure (e.g., use of a filter question, placement in a battery), question form or response format (e.g., yes–no, selection from ordered categories, choice from a list, discrete value), response categories, question wording, and question implementation. We use the framework of question characteristics to summarize key results in active research areas and provide practical recommendations. Progress depends on recognizing how question characteristics co-occur, using a variety of methods and appropriate models, and implementing study designs with strong criteria. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Sociology, Volume 46 is July 30, 2020. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

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Item Location, the Interviewer–Respondent Interaction, and Responses to Battery Questions in Telephone Surveys

Cited by 4 publications

References 46 publications

Are self-description scales better than agree/disagree scales?

Are self-description scales better than agree/disagree scales?

Escalas en preguntas de batería en encuestas telefónicas: ¿cambian las respuestas cuando las preguntas se plantean de forma independiente?

Advances in the Science of Asking Questions

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