Research Methods Chapter 11 Quiz

The ratio of completed interviews to eligible units in the sample.

A process where identification codes are associated with possible responses for each question on a survey.

Occurs when respondents provide consistent answers (all 'yes' or all 'no') without considering the questions fully.

An interviewer error where the interviewer leads the respondent to give a specific answer.

A separate step in data preparation to review and validate respondents' answers, often due to nonresponses or suspicious answers.

The process of reviewing the dataset to identify and fix data coding errors.

Data analysis techniques that can be used to check the quality of the data collected.

A type of respondent problem where respondents do not complete the survey or give very short answers.

Panel companies are specialized organizations that recruit and manage large panels of individuals willing to participate in surveys and other research studies. These panels provide a readily available and reliable source of respondents for online surveys, particularly when traditional methods face challenges like low response rates.

The third-person technique involves framing a survey question indirectly by asking about a hypothetical person similar to the respondent instead of directly addressing the respondent. This approach helps reduce potential embarrassment or bias that might arise from asking sensitive questions directly.

Intentional respondent error refers to situations where respondents deliberately provide inaccurate or misleading information in surveys. This can be motivated by factors like wanting to please the interviewer, concealing certain information, or simply not paying attention.

Validation checks involve verifying the accuracy and consistency of the responses provided by respondents during the data collection process. This can involve reviewing individual answers, comparing them to other data points, and checking for patterns of inconsistency.

Data validation refers to the process of reviewing and verifying the accuracy and completeness of the data collected in a survey. This involves checking for missing or inconsistent information, identifying outliers, and ensuring that the data meets the research objectives.

A codebook ensures clarity and allows any analyst to understand and use a dataset, regardless of their specific background or knowledge of the research project.

Panel companies specialize in identifying and recruiting potential respondents who fit specific demographic or psychographic criteria for a particular survey. These companies ensure that the survey participants are representative of the target audience.

While a well-drafted questionnaire with instructions and examples, along with using reversals of scale endpoints, and careful respondent selection are effective in controlling unintentional respondent errors, using prompters is not a recommended practice. Prompters can bias responses and lead to inaccurate results.

When addressing data quality issues, throwing out the entire respondent's data row is a drastic measure. While leaving it untouched or setting bad data to blanks are options, correcting the answers is the preferred approach to salvage valuable data.

Professional data collection companies employ various mechanisms to minimize fieldworker errors, including psychological screening, selection, training, role playing, and orientation sessions. However, psychological screening is less frequently used compared to the other methods.