What is it about?
People who carefully answer surveys usually spend more time on harder questions and less time on easier ones. This study found that people who answered both easy and hard questions equally quickly were more likely to put in less effort, helping researchers identify lower-quality survey data.
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Why is it important?
High-quality survey data are essential for drawing accurate scientific conclusions, but low-effort responses can introduce bias. This research provides a new way to identify when respondents may not be putting enough effort into more demanding questions, helping improve the quality and trustworthiness of survey research.
Perspectives
This work is an example of our paradata group's belief that, beyond what people respond to surveys, how they respond can yield additional information about individuals such as insights on their cognitive performance, mental health, and effort in responding (which was the focus here).
Raymond Hernandez
University of Southern California
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: CAN RESPONSE TIME ADJUSTMENTS TO QUESTION DEMANDS TOGETHER WITH AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME DISTINGUISH BETWEEN LEVELS OF SATISFICING? FINDINGS FROM THREE SURVEYS IN A LARGE U.S. PANEL STUDY, Journal of Survey Statistics and Methodology, May 2026, Oxford University Press (OUP),
DOI: 10.1093/jssam/smaf064.
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