Question

Please provide one example and explanation of a bias in responses (response style) to questionnaire surveys.

Answer 1

Response bias is the tendency of a respondent or participates gives inaccurate or misleading answers to a question. In this situation sometime the person may not be aware that they are not answering the questions in the way the research intended. The bias can be intentional or accidental but with biased responses by the person, a questionnaire survey becomes less useful.

Leading bias is one common type, an example in case your question associated with customer satisfaction and the options available are very satisfied, satisfied and dissatisfied. In this case, there is a bias that can affect results.

Types of Response bias in responses to questionnaire surveys.

1. Demand Characteristics- In such a case where a person gives a particular response to a question because he thinks that his answers match with questionnaire demand.
2. Extreme response- The extreme response bias occur as a result of a person giving extreme responses to question. This may be done by the respondents to make themselves look good or another person looks bad to the questionnaire for example- A person who visited a restaurant may be asked how the food was, he replies extreme responses, how bad it was as result sometimes he gets an extra plate of food as compensation from the restaurant.
3. Neutral responses- In this case respondent gives a neutral reply to all the questions asked. A lot of respondents do this when they have no idea or knowledge about an answer to the question. So they provide the same responses to all questions.
4. Acquiescence bias- Where respondents give positive answers without thinking to all the questions asked. They don’t have the interest to read the questions before choosing affirmative answers.
5. Dissent Bias- This is opposite of acquiescence bias where respondents give negative answers to all the questions asked. This response bias has done intentionally because they don’t have the interest to read the questions.
Example of bias in responses (response style) to questionnaire surveys
The loaded questions- With the designed loaded questions, you give pressure on the people to answering the questions in a particular way. You stop them from explaining their own opinions. The loaded questions increase the chance to drop out and unclear results.
Loaded questions like- Where do you like to celebrate a party? What if the person doesn’t like to party? What if they are like to stay at home? Instead, you need to ask like this- what do you like to do on weekend evenings?

How do you avoid response bias?
1. You need to stop asking emotional questions when asking respondents questions so that they give objective answers.
2. The questionnaire should be simple for a layman to understand. Try to avoid big grammars or confusing words.
3. Researchers should validate responses in such a way that respondents cannot make bias responses to questions.
4. Provide a person to save and continue later option sometimes respondents choose random answers to questions when they are tired.
5. Researchers should understand demographic before drafting a questionnaire.