A Taxonomy of Invalid Responders: Understanding a Threat to Validity

• In Event: Methodological Advances to Improve Survey Data Collection and Analysis

Abstract

Invalid responding on surveys poses a potentially fatal threat to the validity of survey interpretation and use. This research hypothesizes four different types of invalid response: mischievous, satisficing, reticent and subversive. Mischievous responses are comically driven, satisficing responses involve low effort or low engagement, reticent responses require a desire to conceal true values, and subversive responses involve a desire to manipulate survey interpretations. Group interviews to find evidence for all four types. Implications for validity and recommendations for identifying invalid responses and reducing their prevalence are discussed.

Authors

• Albert Anthony Clairmont, University of California- Santa Barbara

• Melissa Gordon Wolf, University of California - Santa Barbara

• Andrew Maul, University of California - Santa Barbara