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Web Survey Bibliography

Title Mobile Devices for the Collection of Sensitive Information
Year 2015
Access date 09.07.2015
Abstract

This paper examines mobile devices—both smartphones and tablet computers—as vehicles for survey data collection. The appeal of these devices for survey researchers is obvious. Because they are lightweight and relatively inexpensive, they make it easier to collect data using such existing survey modes as computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI). The use of smartphones and tablets in surveys does raise several issues, including the perceived privacy of data collected on these devices. Respondents are willing to reveal sensitive information about themselves when a computer administers the questions. But it is unclear whether respondents will display the same level of candor when the survey is administered over the Internet on a tablet computer or a smartphone. We examined this issue in a realistic field experiment. The experiment compares the same three data collection platforms (smartphones, tablets, and laptops) as vehicles for collecting sensitive information, using items on alcohol use, smoking, and illicit drug use drawn from national surveys, such as the National Survey of Drug Use and Health. The data collection device is crossed with self- versus interviewer administration in a 3 x 2 factorial experiment. The key outcome in this experiment is the level of reporting potentially embarrassing information. The experiment also asks respondents to assess the sensitivity of the questions, which can vary as a function of the method of data collection. Finally, the experiment will compare rates of missing data, response rates, and breakoffs as a function of the device and method of administration.

Year of publication2015
Bibliographic typeConferences, workshops, tutorials, presentations
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