Superficial Survey Choice: An Experimental Test of a Potential Method for Increasing Response Rates and Response Quality in Correctional Surveys

Objectives Drawing on prior theoretical and empirical work on survey participation, this study develops one potential method for increasing response rates and response quality in correctional surveys. Specifically, we hypothesize that providing inmates with a superficial survey choice (SSC)—that is,...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Pickett, Justin T. (Autor) ; Metcalfe, Christi Falco (Autor) ; Baker, Thomas (Autor) ; Gertz, Marc (Autor) ; Bedard, Laura (Autor)
Tipo de documento: Electrónico Artículo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2014
En: Journal of quantitative criminology
Año: 2014, Volumen: 30, Número: 2, Páginas: 265-284
Acceso en línea: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Palabras clave:
Prisoners
Satisficing
Item nonresponse
Unit nonresponse
Survey participation
Descripción
Sumario:Objectives Drawing on prior theoretical and empirical work on survey participation, this study develops one potential method for increasing response rates and response quality in correctional surveys. Specifically, we hypothesize that providing inmates with a superficial survey choice (SSC)—that is, a choice between completing either of two voluntary surveys that are actually differently ordered versions of the same questionnaire—will increase their motivation both to participate in a given survey and to respond thoughtfully to the questions asked therein. Methods We test the effectiveness of this method by evaluating its impact on unit nonresponse, item nonresponse, and answer reliability. To do this, we analyze experimental data from a recent survey of male inmates incarcerated in a medium security, private prison. Results Findings indicate that the overall response rate is higher among inmates who are provided a survey choice. In addition, the evidence shows that the SSC method increases the percentage of individual items completed, the number of demanding questions completed, and the reliability of reported responses. Conclusion The results from the analyses are consistent with the hypotheses that motivated this study and suggest that the SSC method holds promise as a tool for correctional researchers.
ISSN:1573-7799
DOI:10.1007/s10940-013-9203-4