Some evidences and applications of the randomized response crossed model in a survey of sensitive population behaviors

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 229-239
Author(s):  
Elvira Pelle ◽  
Pier Francesco Perri
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Measurement Errors ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Randomized Response ◽  
Human Behaviors ◽  
Prevalence Estimates ◽  
Sensitive Issues ◽  
Sensitive Population

Surveying human behaviors, especially in demographic, social, medical and public health research, often involves sensitive issues. Posing direct inquiries about stigmatizing or threatening topics may lead survey participants to refuse to answer or to give untruthful responses. Nonresponse and misreporting denote measurement errors that are difficult to treat and are likely to yield unreliable analyses of the surveyed topics. This problem can be mitigated by adopting survey methods that enhance anonymity and respondent cooperation. One possibility is to create a trustful and confidential relationship between the interviewer and the survey participants. Alternatively, it is possible to fully protect privacy by adopting indirect questioning procedures that elicit information without posing sensitive questions directly. We consider both above-mentioned possibilities showing the results of a real study which explores the effectiveness of the randomized response crossed model proposed by Lee et al. (2013) to produce prevalence estimates for two sensitive traits, cannabis use and its legalization.

scholarly journals Asking Sensitive Questions Using the Randomized Response Approach in Public Health Research: An Empirical Study on the Factors of Illegal Waste Disposal

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Chong ◽  
Amanda Chu ◽  
Mike So ◽  
Ray Chung
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Waste Disposal ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Randomized Response ◽  
Sensitive Questions ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Illegal Waste Disposal ◽  
Illegal Waste

A survey study is a research method commonly used to quantify population characteristics in biostatistics and public health research, two fields that often involve sensitive questions. However, if answering sensitive questions could cause social undesirability, respondents may not provide honest responses to questions that are asked directly. To mitigate the response distortion arising from dishonest answers to sensitive questions, the randomized response technique (RRT) is a useful and effective statistical method. However, research has seldom addressed how to apply the RRT in public health research using an online survey with multiple sensitive questions. Thus, we help fill this research gap by employing an innovative unrelated question design method. To illustrate how the RRT can be implemented in a multivariate analysis setting, we conducted a survey study to examine the factors affecting the intention of illegal waste disposal. This study demonstrates an application of the RRT to investigate the factors affecting people’s intention of illegal waste disposal. The potential factors of the intention were adopted from the theory of planned behavior and the general deterrence theory, and a self-administered online questionnaire was employed to collect data. Using the RRT, a covariance matrix was extracted for examining the hypothesized model via structural equation modeling. The survey results show that people’s attitude toward the behavior and their perceived behavioral control significantly positively affect their intention. This paper is useful for showing researchers and policymakers how to conduct surveys in environmental or public health related research that involves multiple sensitive questions.

scholarly journals Response rate to an online questionnaire amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in undergraduate students and graduates from a Colombian university

2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. e95888
Author(s):  
Adalberto Campo-Arias ◽  
John Carlos Pedrozo-Pupo ◽  
Leynin Esther Caamaño-Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Social Desirability ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Online Research ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Sensitive Issues ◽  
Epidemiology And Public Health

In epidemiology and public health research, caution is necessary when addressing results reported by studies based on the administration of online questionnaires. The most critical limitation in such studies is their impossibility of guaranteeing the representativeness of the sample. However, when having a representative sample is secondary, online questionnaires are an excellent alternative for exploratory studies that seek to obtain information about emerging phenomena quickly and cost-effectively or address sensitive issues, for this approach allows reaching populations difficult to get in contact with using traditional strategies. Online research allows the complete anonymity of participants and ensures they provide a more honest response, regardless of their social desirability, any stigma, or discrimination.

scholarly journals Utilizing asynchronous email interviews for health research: overview of benefits and drawbacks

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Amri ◽  
Christina Angelakis ◽  
Dilani Logan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Data Quality ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Data Accuracy ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Face To Face

Abstract Objective Through collating observations from various studies and complementing these findings with one author’s study, a detailed overview of the benefits and drawbacks of asynchronous email interviewing is provided. Through this overview, it is evident there is great potential for asynchronous email interviews in the broad field of health, particularly for studies drawing on expertise from participants in academia or professional settings, those across varied geographical settings (i.e. potential for global public health research), and/or in circumstances when face-to-face interactions are not possible (e.g. COVID-19). Results Benefits of asynchronous email interviewing and additional considerations for researchers are discussed around: (i) access transcending geographic location and during restricted face-to-face communications; (ii) feasibility and cost; (iii) sampling and inclusion of diverse participants; (iv) facilitating snowball sampling and increased transparency; (v) data collection with working professionals; (vi) anonymity; (vii) verification of participants; (viii) data quality and enhanced data accuracy; and (ix) overcoming language barriers. Similarly, potential drawbacks of asynchronous email interviews are also discussed with suggested remedies, which centre around: (i) time; (ii) participant verification and confidentiality; (iii) technology and sampling concerns; (iv) data quality and availability; and (v) need for enhanced clarity and precision.

scholarly journals Reporting the methods used in public health research and practice

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 89-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna F. Stroup ◽  
C. Kay Smith ◽  
Benedict I. Truman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Research And Practice
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