Social Desirability Bias in Survey Research on Sustainable Development in Small Firms: an Exploratory Analysis of Survey Mode Effect

Abstract

Survey methodology has become an increasingly popular weapon of choice in conducting research on the topic of environmental sustainability in the small firm context. However, conventional application of survey research in many empirical studies tends to ignore the inherent issues associated with the mode of administration of survey questionnaires. One of these issues is social desirability bias (SDB) arising from survey modes such as face to face, the assisted type of survey questionnaire administration and mailed or purely self‐administered survey. This study is an analysis of survey data generated by two modes: purely self‐administered and survey enumerator assisted. The paper argues that the presence of an enumerator in the workplace or actual site of the business to administer the survey will motivate the respondents to provide more accurate information about the firms' environmental sustainability knowledge and practices. The article offers suggestions to address SDB in carrying out surveys about environmental sustainability in small firms. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Reasons for household food waste with special attention to packaging

“…Household sizes have some effect on the amount of food waste. In general, smaller households waste more food/capita, which has been shown in other studies (Baker et al, 2009;Kjaer and Werge, 2010). Since one-person households waste more per capita, and since it is an increasing household type in Europe, it would be interesting to further study this groups' packaging related waste.…”

“…Their planning ability may influence their shopping frequency so that it does not have the same effect on food wastage as in the blue group. Planning ability is considered to be an important aspect in other studies (Baker et al, 2009). The green group wasted less due to 'passed best before date'.…”

“…Other studies show that consumers care much more about the household economy than the environment (Cox and Downing, 2007;Baker et al, 2009). Household sizes have some effect on the amount of food waste.…”

Do Entrepreneurial SMEs Perform Better Because They are More Responsible?

“…There are many obstacles to commitment, and they are often found in the ''why'' and ''how'' of such commitment (Battisti and Perry 2011;Bos-Brouwers 2010;Roxas and Lindsay 2012). Our research first provides a response to the ''how'' question; encouraging the implementation of entrepreneurial organization in SMEs appears to be a pertinent means of more easily implementing sustainable practices, which are often considered innovative, risky, and proactive, in the three environmental, SPW and SPC dimensions.…”

“…This bias is specific to the subject studied, as SD practices are generally considered socially desirable (Roxas and Lindsay 2012). The impact of this bias seems limited because the questions asked concerned actual practices rather than attitudes.…”