The randomised response technique: A valuable approach to monitor pathways of aquatic biological invasions

Abstract

Anglers can be significant vectors for non‐native species (NNS) in freshwater ecosystems, and monitoring their behaviour can be a useful way to counteract biological invasions. However, anglers may be unwilling to reveal their real behaviour in conventional surveys. In this study, the Randomised Response Technique (RRT) and the Bean Method (BM) survey technique were compared using direct questions to obtain frequency estimates of four angler behaviours that may affect NNS management in freshwater ecosystems: angling without a license, release of macroinvertebrates in the environment, use of fish bait and unauthorised fish restocking. Higher estimates were obtained from responses to RRT than BM questions, and BM provided contradictory results. Use of the RRT is recommended in those human dimension studies that explore angler behaviour as a vector for aquatic invasions.

The bean method as a tool to measure sensitive behavior

“…Given this apparently low sensitivity of behaviours in our study, a question remains whether the bean method promotes truthful reporting of sensitive topics. Previous results suggest it can be effective in some cases: Lau et al (2011) found reporting of risky sexual behaviours increased with the bean method in four out of five surveys, relative to direct questions, while Cerri et al (2017) found higher reporting for two out of four illegal fishing activities. Neither study found reporting to be lower with the bean method.…”

“…Materials can be locally sourced, making it particularly appropriate for settings where complex approaches are likely to be viewed with suspicion. The bean method has received little attention since its development (but see Cerri et al, 2017), but similar approaches have been successfully used to measure sensitive health behaviours in low-literacy populations (Lowndes et al 2012) .…”

“…Due to its relatively simple format, the cognitive burden for respondents is likely to be lower than more complex techniques. The bean method has received little attention since its development (but see Cerri et al [2017]), but similar approaches have been successfully used to measure sensitive health behaviors in low-literacy populations (Lowndes et al 2012).…”

“…The bean method has received little attention since its development (but see Cerri et al. [2017]), but similar approaches have been successfully used to measure sensitive health behaviors in low‐literacy populations (Lowndes et al. 2012).…”

Recreational angling as a pathway for invasive non-native species spread: awareness of biosecurity and the risk of long distance movement into Great Britain

“…However, despite the link between angling and nonnative species being reported for many years (Maitland 1987;Winfield et al 1996;William and Moss 2001;Zięba et al 2010) the relative importance of angling as a pathway and vector for non-native species dispersal is still relatively unknown. A few studies have been undertaken to investigate the role of angling in the secondary dispersal of INNS between water bodies (Gates et al 2009;Anderson et al 2014), and others have reported the potential for INNS introduction and spread from the use of live bait by anglers (Keller et al 2007;Kilian et al 2012;Drake and Mandrak 2014;Cerri et al 2017). In North America, higher numbers of non-native species have also been found to coincide with areas of greater recreational fishing demand (Davis and Darling 2017).…”