Random responses to surveys [reference request]

post by JonahS (JonahSinick) · 2013-05-23T16:14:42.953Z · LW · GW · Legacy · 5 comments

Contents

5 comments

I'm looking for research on the frequency with which survey participants answer questions without reading them. I'd greatly appreciate any references.

5 comments

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comment by Manfred · 2013-05-23T17:49:38.861Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Have you read tthis article?

Replies from: JonahSinick
↑ comment by JonahS (JonahSinick) · 2013-05-23T18:46:20.114Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Edit: I hadn't seen the article before, thanks for pointing it out

Replies from: gjm
↑ comment by gjm · 2013-05-23T23:09:32.089Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

[EDITED to add: Jonah's comment used to say just "No, thanks", which I completely misunderstood.]

I may possibly be mistaking your tone, but if I'm not then I think you are probably making a wrong assumption about the sort of article it is (which is kinda understandable given its title, if you aren't familiar with Scott Alexander's taste in blogpost titles).

Would it help if I mention that the author of the article is also the author of what I think is still the most-upvoted thing ever to hit the Less Wrong front page, and the second-highest-karma person on LW? He's sensible and insightful and very funny, and if you glanced at the URL and thought "oh no, a conspiracist loon" then you should look again: it's not that sort of thing at all.

Replies from: JonahSinick
↑ comment by JonahS (JonahSinick) · 2013-05-23T23:41:00.581Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I meant "I hadn't seen the article before, thanks for pointing it out" :-). I have a high opinion of Scott. I'll modify my comment to alleviate ambiguity.

comment by Decius · 2013-05-24T05:54:16.835Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

If you are concerned, I'd try a couple of control questions in any survey, intended to weed out people who answer randomly.