Title
Response tendency in a questionnaire without questions
Abstract
In a replication of an earlier study by Berg and
Rapaport (1954), a questionnaire with items lacking
content and containing merely answer possibilities
was administered to 197 Dutch psychology freshmen.
Students clearly did not react in accordance
with the laws of statistical probability but showed,
like Berg and Rapaport’s subjects, a preference for
positive options such as yes, true, and satisfied over
negative options such as no, false, and dissatisfied.
No sex differences or differences due to position of
the answer possibilities were found. This result is in
contrast with the 1954 findings, because Berg and
Rapaport found that option position and subjects’
sex did influence response bias.
Identifiers
other: doi:10.1177/014662167900300112
Previously Published Citation
Van Heerden, J & Hoogstraten, Joh. (1979). Response tendency in a questionnaire without questions. Applied Psychological Measurement, 3, 117-121. doi:10.1177/014662167900300112
Suggested Citation
Van Heerden, J.; Hoogstraten, Joh.
(1979).
Response tendency in a questionnaire without questions.
Retrieved from the University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy,
https://hdl.handle.net/11299/99572.