A Study of Within- and Between-Person Variance in Vague Quantifiers

• In Event: Innovative Methods in Survey Research

Abstract

How much is “sometimes?” How often is often? Does the quantity change based on the context? The current study examines sources of between- and within-person variance in vague quantifiers. The current study provides evidence for varying degrees of within person and between person variance in a small set of vague quantifiers. Both sources of variance are important in survey research. Between person variance indicates that respondents perceive and quantify the word differently. Within person variance indicates that even the same person does not consistently quantify a given word. Both between and within-person variance are sources of error/unreliability within the survey research process. Our full paper more fully discusses the implications of our research for survey researchers.

Authors

• D. Betsy Mccoach, University of Connecticut

• Brittney A. Hernandez, University of Connecticut - Storrs

• Alexandra Lane Stone, University of Connecticut - Storrs