Mode of questionnaire administration can have serious effects on data quality
Mode of questionnaire administration can have serious effects on data quality
Background One of the main primary data collection instruments in social, health and epidemiological research is the survey questionnaire. Modes of data collection by questionnaire differ in several ways, including the method of contacting respondents, the medium of delivering the questionnaire to respondents, and the administration of the questions. These are likely to have different effects on the quality of the data collected.
Methods This paper is based on a narrative review of systematic and non-systematic searches of the literature on the effects of mode of questionnaire administration on data quality.
Results Within different modes of questionnaire administration, there were many documented potential, biasing influences on the responses obtained. These were greatest between different types of mode (e.g. self-administered versus interview modes), rather than within modes. It can be difficult to separate out the effects of the different influences, at different levels.
Conclusions The biasing effects of mode of questionnaire administration has important implications for research methodology, the validity of the results of research, and for the soundness of public policy developed from evidence using questionnaire-based research. All users of questionnaires need to be aware of these potential effects on their data.
mode of questionnaire administration, data collection bias, data collection mode, sf-36 health survey, self-administered questionnaires, to-face interviews, paper-and-pencil, telephone interviews, sexual behavior, primary care, drug use
281 - 291
Bowling, Ann
796ca209-687f-4079-8a40-572076251936
September 2005
Bowling, Ann
796ca209-687f-4079-8a40-572076251936
Abstract
Background One of the main primary data collection instruments in social, health and epidemiological research is the survey questionnaire. Modes of data collection by questionnaire differ in several ways, including the method of contacting respondents, the medium of delivering the questionnaire to respondents, and the administration of the questions. These are likely to have different effects on the quality of the data collected.
Methods This paper is based on a narrative review of systematic and non-systematic searches of the literature on the effects of mode of questionnaire administration on data quality.
Results Within different modes of questionnaire administration, there were many documented potential, biasing influences on the responses obtained. These were greatest between different types of mode (e.g. self-administered versus interview modes), rather than within modes. It can be difficult to separate out the effects of the different influences, at different levels.
Conclusions The biasing effects of mode of questionnaire administration has important implications for research methodology, the validity of the results of research, and for the soundness of public policy developed from evidence using questionnaire-based research. All users of questionnaires need to be aware of these potential effects on their data.
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Published date: September 2005
Keywords:
mode of questionnaire administration, data collection bias, data collection mode, sf-36 health survey, self-administered questionnaires, to-face interviews, paper-and-pencil, telephone interviews, sexual behavior, primary care, drug use
Organisations:
Faculty of Health Sciences
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 334606
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/334606
ISSN: 1741-3842
PURE UUID: b448702a-da14-4ad5-8dc5-44e1e16f1d16
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Date deposited: 30 Mar 2012 13:22
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 10:35
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