Web Survey Bibliography
Title Is the American Public as Informed about Science as They Say They Are?
Author Gentry, R. J.
Year 2004
Access date 30.08.2004
Abstract This research explores the effect of social desirability responding on self-reports of informedness about science and technology in the 2003 Joint Program in Survey Methodology’s Practicum survey (done on behalf of and with funding from the National Science Foundation). An experimental design was utilized in order to test the effects of mode and inclusion of a middle response option on social desirability. Respondents 18+ were recruited via an RDD screener questionnaire and all persons with Internet access were assigned to either a phone-administered main survey or an Internetadministered version of the same survey. Additionally, respondents were randomly assigned to answer an item about their science and technology informedness which either included or excluded a middle response option. Furthermore, because the respondents who answered via the Internet scored higher on a test of science knowledge, as measured later in that same survey, knowledge score was used as a covariate in the analysis to make the mode groups more comparable. After controlling for science knowledge, both mode and absence of a middle response option had a significant effect on selfreported informedness. Those respondents interviewed over the phone reported higher mean informedness than those interviewed via the Internet, providing support for the theory that increased social distance leads to less social desirability. Furthermore, when the data from the two middle response conditions was analyzed separately, no mode difference was observed in the middle response included condition but a significant mode difference (phone higher than Internet) was found when no middle response was offered. This provides support for the theory that respondents prone to socially desirable responding may over-utilize the middle response option when it is made available.
Year of publication2004
Bibliographic typeConferences, workshops, tutorials, presentations
Web Survey Bibliography - Gentry, R. J. (6)
- Use of a 2nd Reminder Mailing, Quick Response Code and Optimized Mobile Survey to Increase Response...; 2012; Cantave, M. A., Gentry, R. J.
- The Effect on Differential Mailing Methodologies on Response Rates: Testing Advanced Notices, Package...; 2012; Pens, Y., Gentry, R. J.
- Differential Mailing Methodologies on Response Rates: Testing Advance Notices, Blast Telephone Messages...; 2011; Gentry, R. J., Pens, Y.
- Who Chooses the Web Option?; 2009; O'Hare, B. C., Gentry, R. J.
- Offering Respondents a Choice of Survey Mode: Use Patterns of an Internet Response Option in a Mail...; 2008; Gentry, R. J.
- Is the American Public as Informed about Science as They Say They Are?; 2004; Gentry, R. J.