Cited by 3,057Survey Methodology and NonresponseSurvey Sampling and Estimation TechniquesPsychometric Methodologies and Testing

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Sensitive questions in surveys.

Tourangeau, Roger, Yan, Ting·2007·Psychological Bulletin

DOI 10.1037/0033-2909.133.5.859

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Abstract

Psychologists have worried about the distortions introduced into standardized personality measures by social desirability bias. Survey researchers have had similar concerns about the accuracy of survey reports about such topics as illicit drug use, abortion, and sexual behavior. The article reviews the research done by survey methodologists on reporting errors in surveys on sensitive topics, noting parallels and differences from the psychological literature on social desirability. The findings from the survey studies suggest that misreporting about sensitive topics is quite common and that it is largely situational. The extent of misreporting depends on whether the respondent has anything embarrassing to report and on design features of the survey. The survey evidence also indicates that misreporting on sensitive topics is a more or less motivated process in which respondents edit the information they report to avoid embarrassing themselves in the presence of an interviewer or to avoid repercussions from third parties.

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Authors: Tourangeau, R., & Yan, T.
Affiliations: University of Maryland, College Park (US)
University of Michigan (US)
ORCID: Yan, Ting
Venue: Psychological Bulletin
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2007
Volume: 133
Issue: 5
Pages: 859-883
ISSN: 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
1939-1455
DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.133.5.859
OpenAlex: W2080673930
Cited by: 3,057
References: 168
Citations by year: 2026: 279 · 2025: 247 · 2024: 188 · 2023: 157 · 2022: 201 · 2021: 254 · 2020: 233 · 2019: 189 · 2018: 198 · 2017: 199 · 2016: 166 · 2015: 157 · 2014: 153 · 2013: 146 · 2012: 99
FWCI: 137.22
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Survey Methodology and Nonresponse
Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Survey Sampling and Estimation Techniques
Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
Keywords: sensitive questions, social desirability bias, misreporting, survey accuracy, error reporting, survey design, embarrassment, illicit drug use, sexual behavior, abortion, personality measures
MeSH terms: Abortion, Induced, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Personality Tests, Pregnancy, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sexual Behavior, Social Desirability, Social Problems, Illicit Drugs, Bias, Substance-Related Disorders

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