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Web Survey Bibliography

Title Detecting Insufficient Effort Responding with an Infrequency Scale: Evaluating Validity and Participant Reactions
Source Journal of Business and Psychology, 30, 2, pp. 299-311
Year 2016
Database SpringerLink
Access date 22.05.2016
Abstract

Purpose

Insufficient effort responding (IER), which occurs due to a lack of motivation to comply with survey instructions and to correctly interpret item content, represents a serious problem for researchers and practitioners who employ survey methodology (Huang et al. 2012). Extending prior research, we examine the validity of the infrequency approach to detecting IER and assess participant reactions to such an approach. Design/Methodology/Approach: Two online surveys (Studies 1 and 2) completed by employed undergraduates were utilized to assess the validity of the infrequency approach. An on-line survey of paid participants (Study 3) and a paper-and-pencil survey in an organization (Study 4) were conducted to evaluate participant reactions, using random assignment into survey conditions that either did or did not contain infrequency items. Findings: Studies 1 and 2 provided evidence for the reliability, unidimensionality, and criterion-related validity of the infrequency scales. Study 3 and Study 4 showed that surveys that contained infrequency items did not lead to more negative reactions than did surveys that did not contain such items. Implications: The current findings provide evidence of the effectiveness and feasibility of the infrequency approach for detecting IER, supporting its application in low-stakes organizational survey contexts. Originality/Value: The current studies provide a more in-depth examination of the infrequency approach to IER detection than had been done in prior research. In particular, the evaluation of participant reactions to infrequency scales represents a novel contribution to the IER literature.

Year of publication2014
Bibliographic typeJournal article
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Web survey bibliography (4086)

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