Abstract
The randomized response technique (RRT) is an indirect question method that uses stochastic noise to increase anonymity in surveys containing sensitive items. Former studies often implicitly assumed that the respondents trust and comply with the RRT procedure and, therefore, are motivated to give truthful responses. However, validation studies demonstrated that RRT may not always be successful in eliciting truthful answering—even when compared with direct questioning. The article theoretically explores and discusses the conditions under which this assumption is consistent (or inconsistent) with the survey respondents’ rational behavior. First, because P(A| Yes) > P(A| No), both types of respondents, A (with sensitive trait) and non-A (without sensitive trait), have an incentive to disregard the instructions in the RRT mode. In contrast, respondents type non-A have no incentive to lie in the direct questioning mode. Thus, the potential for social desirability bias is (theoretically) higher in the RRT mode. Second, a basic game theoretic approach conceptualizes the survey interview as a social interaction between the respondent and the interviewer within the context of norms and mutual expectations. It is argued that the respondent’s choice to answer truthfully depends on (a) the respondents’ estimated likelihood that the interviewer honors trust and (b) a relative comparison of the utility from conforming to “the norm of truthfulness” versus its costs. Finally, we review previous empirical evidence and show that our theoretical model can explain both successes and failures of the RRT.
Highlights
Sociological research often collects data on private, illegal, and unsocial behavior or extreme attitudes via survey interviews
In the United States, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and the General Social Survey (GSS) regularly ask respondents to self-report on sensitive topics such as drug use or sexual habits
Elicited on part of the respondent. Sometimes this reciprocity is associated with the activation of a “norm of truthful answering” (Esser, 1990) prescribing that someone should be honest and cooperative in a social interaction. This norm may possibly interfere with another norm, which is relevant in this realm, namely, the “norm of social desirability,” specifying that certain kinds of behavior are negatively valued by society
Summary
Sociological research often collects data on private, illegal, and unsocial behavior or extreme attitudes via survey interviews. This norm may possibly interfere with another norm, which is relevant in this realm, namely, the “norm of social desirability,” specifying that certain kinds of behavior are negatively valued by society Given this norm, respondents with sensitive trait A will incur costs of embarrassment if they answer truthfully in the direct mode or if there is a positive probability that the trait will be detected by the interviewer in the RRT mode. The game model for the RRT mode under incomplete information conditions including social norms is depicted in Figure 7: With respect to the RRT mode, the following predictions could be derived for both types of respondents A and non-A: If μ exceeds the critical probability μ**: = 1− (U / C‘) with. Both modes (depending on the respondent’s preferences, either U – C < 0 or U – C > 0)
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