Striving for Response Accuracy: Experiments in New Interviewing Techniques

Abstract

A dual program analyzed response invalidity and experimented with interviewing techniques designed to improve reporting. Respondent perceptions, interviewer behavior, and the relation of invalidity to characteristics of requested information are discussed and hypotheses are posed about cognitive and emotional demands of the question-answering task. In controlled experiments it was found that new interviewing techniques (instructions, feedback, and commitment) can clarify the respondent's task, enhance motivation, and thus improve reporting quality.