The use of the psychological laboratory to study sensitive survey topics

Abstract

Maximizing the tendency of the survey respondent to answer truthfully when sensitive questions are presented is critical issue in survey methodology. A recent development devoted generally to the reduction of response error in survey data is the use of cognitive laboratory techniques during the survey development phase. The chapter categorizes and describes the various cognitive techniques that have been applied, by Federal agencies and other researchers, to the study of sensitive questions. Based on this analysis and review, a number of recommendations are made concerning specific aspects of survey design, when sensitive questions are administered.