Web Survey Bibliography
Title Privacy Concerns in Responses to Sensitive Questions. A Survey Experiment on the Influence of Numeric Codes on Unit Nonresponse, Item Nonresponse, and Misreporting
Author Bader, F., Bauer, J., Kroher, M., Riordan, P.
Source methods, data, analyses, 10, 1, pp. 47-72
Year 2016
Access date 30.05.2016
Full text PDF (1.4 MB)
Abstract Paper-and-pencil surveys are a widely used method for gaining data. Numeric codes printed on the questionnaire are often a prerequisite for the use of scan software, which, in turn, permits a fast and efficient entering of the data from such surveys. However, printed numbers used for optical mark recognition on a questionnaire can provoke concerns about anonymity that may lead to unit nonresponse, item nonresponse, and misreporting. To test this, we conducted an experiment in a mail survey on group-focused enmity, printing a scanner code on half of the questionnaires. Our results show no significant deviation concerning unit nonresponse. We find a higher item nonresponse and misreporting bias towards socially desirable answers in sensitive questions if the questionnaire is marked with a code. The influence of biased responses on regression results is minor. If the numeric code is brought to the respondents’ attention in the cover letter, regression coefficients might be affected. Therefore we conclude that researchers should trade off these small biases against the usefulness of the code. From a methodological perspective, we recommend not to make a statement concerning the numeric code in the cover letter. Our results are of relevance for researchers conducting paper-and-pencil surveys as well as for those analyzing data sets from these surveys. While this article analyzes biases caused by scanner codes, the results are potentially transferable to printed identification numbers used in panel studies, in survey experiments, or to match paradata or context data.
Access/Direct link Journal Homepage (abstract) / (full text)
Year of publication2016
Bibliographic typeJournal article
Web survey bibliography - Germany (639)
- Using Paradata to Predict and Correct for Panel Attrition; 2016
- Comparing Cognitive Interviewing and Online Probing: Do They Find Similar Results?; 2016; Meitinger, K., Behr, D.
- Device Effects - How different screen sizes affect answers in online surveys; 2016; Fisher, B.; Bernet, F.
- Effects of motivating question types with graphical support in multi channel design studies; 2016; Luetters, H.; Friedrich-Freksa, M.; Vitt, SGoldstein, D. G.
- Analyzing Cognitive Burden of Survey Questions with Paradata: A Web Survey Experiment; 2016; Hoehne, J. K.; Schlosser, S.; Krebs, D.
- Secondary Respondent Consent in the German Family Panel; 2016; Schmiedeberg, C.; Castiglioni, L.; Schroeder, J.
- Does Changing Monetary Incentive Schemes in Panel Studies Affect Cooperation? A Quasi-experiment on...; 2016; Schaurer, I.; Bosnjak, M.
- Using Cash Incentives to Help Recruitment in a Probability Based Web Panel: The Effects on Sign Up Rates...; 2016; Krieger, U.
- The Mobile Web Only Population: Socio-demographic Characteristics and Potential Bias ; 2016; Fuchs, M.; Metzler, A.
- The Impact of Scale Direction, Alignment and Length on Responses to Rating Scale Questions in a Web...; 2016; Keusch, F.; Liu, M.; Yan, T.
- Web Surveys Versus Other Survey Modes: An Updated Meta-analysis Comparing Response Rates ; 2016; Wengrzik, J.; Bosnjak, M.; Lozar Manfreda, K.
- Retrospective Measurement of Students’ Extracurricular Activities with a Self-administered Calendar...; 2016; Furthmueller, P.
- Privacy Concerns in Responses to Sensitive Questions. A Survey Experiment on the Influence of Numeric...; 2016; Bader, F., Bauer, J., Kroher, M., Riordan, P.
- Ballpoint Pens as Incentives with Mail Questionnaires – Results of a Survey Experiment; 2016; Heise, M.
- Does survey mode matter for studying electoral behaviour? Evidence from the 2009 German Longitudinal...; 2016; Bytzek, E.; Bieber, I. E.
- Consequences of the forced answering option within online surveys: Do higher item response rates come...; 2016; Sischka, P.; Decieux, J. P.; Mergener, A.; Neufang, K.
- How the Placement of the Linkage Consent Question Impacts the Consent Rate in an Online Establishment...; 2016; Vicari, B.; Sakshaug, J. W.
- Effects of Issue Salience, Questionnaire Design and Incentives on Web Survey Response Rates; 2016; Hentschel, A.; Mueller, A.
- Motivated Underreporting and Response Propensity: Do persons likely to respond give better answers to...; 2016; Wengrzik, J.
- A study on panel engagement in a mobile survey app; 2016; Scharioth, N.; Tschida, K.
- Mixed-Method Approaches in Enterprise Social Software Evaluation; 2016; Schnurr, J. M.; Behrendt, S.; Buelow, C.
- Fit4You - an online survey for the transition from school to vocational training / study; 2016; Koehler, T.; Haertel, L.; Funke, F.; Neumann, J.; Ossowski, A.; Hellwig, O.; Bartsch, J.; Sander, N.
- Mobile app respondents: a study on panel engagement; 2016; Scharioth, N.; Tschida, K.
- The Adequacy of Outlier Definitions based on Response Time Distributions in Web Surveys: A Paradata...; 2016; Schlosser, S.; Karem Hoehne, J.
- Changing the scoring procedure and the response format to get the most out of multiple-choice tests...; 2016; Papenberg, M.; Diedenhofen, B.; Musch, J.
- Human vs. artificial intelligence: Are software solutions already able to replace human beings?; 2016; Koch, M.
- Impulsiveness, Speed and Reliability in Online Questionnaire; 2016; Harms, C.
- Non-response in evaluation of teaching; 2016; Brinkmoeller, B.; Forthmann, B.; Thielsch, M.
- The Big Show-Stopper: Online Research in the Stranglehold of Data Protection Regulation?; 2016; Mueller - Peters, H.
- Participation in a mixed-mode panel over the course of the field period: An analysis of different response...; 2016; Struminskaya, B.; Gummer, T.
- Propensity score weighting in a web-based panel survey: Comparing the effects on attrition biases in...; 2016; Gummer, T.; Rossmann, J.
- Using Behavioral Economic Games as Replacement for Grid Questions to Increase Respondent Engagement; 2016; Buder, F.; Unfried, M.
- Gaming-Genres and Motivation: Why do we play what we play?; 2016; Stetina, B. U. Kovacovsky, Z. Kluss, K. Klaps, A. Aden, J. Bendas, C. Daude, A. Lehenbauer, M.
- Forecasting proportional representation elections from non-representative expectation surveys; 2016; Graefe, A.
- Setting Up an Online Panel Representative of the General Population The German Internet Panel; 2016; Blom, A. G.; Gathmann, C.; Krieger, U.
- Online Surveys are Mixed-Device Surveys. Issues Associated with the Use of Different (Mobile) Devices...; 2016; Toepoel, V.; Lugtig, P. J.
- Stable Relationships, Stable Participation? The Effects of Partnership Dissolution and Changes in Relationship...; 2016; Mueller, B.; Castiglioni, L.
- A Web Experiment Showing Negative Effects of Slider Scales Compared to Visual Analogue Scales and Radio...; 2016; Funke, F.
- Will They Stay or Will They Go? Personality Predictors of Dropout in Online Study; 2016; Nestler, S.; Thielsch, M.; Vasilev, E.; Back, M.
- Respondent Conditioning in Online Panel Surveys: Results of Two Field Experiments; 2016; Struminskaya, B.
- A Privacy-Friendly Method to Reward Participants of Online-Surveys; 2015; Herfert, M.; Lange, B.; Selzer, A.; Waldmann, U.
- The impact of frequency rating scale formats on the measurement of latent variables in web surveys -...; 2015; Menold, N.; Kemper, C. J.
- Investigating response order effects in web surveys using eye tracking; 2015; Karem Hoehne, J.; Lenzner, T.
- Implementation of the forced answering option within online surveys: Do higher item response rates come...; 2015; Decieux, J. P.; Mergener, A.; Neufang, K.; Sischka, P.
- Translating Answers to Open-ended Survey Questions in Cross-cultural Research: A Case Study on the Interplay...; 2015; Behr, D.
- The Effects of Questionnaire Completion Using Mobile Devices on Data Quality. Evidence from a Probability...; 2015; Bosnjak, M.; Struminskaya, B.; Weyandt, K.
- Are they willing to use the web? First results of a possible switch from PAPI to CAPI/CAWI in an establishment...; 2015; Ellguth, P.; Kohaut, S.
- Measuring Political Knowledge in Web-Based Surveys: An Experimental Validation of Visual Versus Verbal...; 2015; Munzert, S.; Selb, P.
- Changing from CAPI to CAWI in an ongoing household panel - experiences from the German Socio-Economic...; 2015; Schupp, J.; Sassenroth, D.
- Rating Scales in Web Surveys: A Test of New Drag-and-Drop Rating Procedures; 2015; Kunz, T.