Respondent Use of Straight-Lining as a Response Strategy in Education Survey Research: Prevalence and Implications

• In Event: Roundtable Session 104
  In Roundtable Session: Applications in Survey Research: Development, Data Analysis, and Methods

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence of straight-lining response strategies responses for a set of survey items (a form of satisficing behavior) in educational survey research. Results indicate that straight-lining is rarely employed as a response strategy by respondents for early items sets, though the prevalence of straight-lining does increase over the length of the survey and that this increase in straight-lining is more likely to be used by males with lower academic preparation, and more likely to be first-generation. Increased straight-lining behavior was also associated with contact order indicating that increased reluctance to respond is associated with increased straight-lining as a response strategy.

Authors

• James S. Cole, Indiana University

• Alexander C. McCormick, Indiana University - Bloomington

• Robert M. Gonyea, Indiana University - Bloomington