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Cited by 403Survey Methodology and NonresponsePsychometric Methodologies and TestingSurvey Sampling and Estimation Techniques

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 80 of the 80 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The Reliability of Survey Attitude Measurement: The Influence of Question and Respondent Attributes

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ALWIN, DUANE F., KROSNICK, JON A.·1991·Sociological Methods & Research
DOI 10.1177/0049124191020001005
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Abstract

Several theoretical hypotheses are developed concerning the relation of question and respondent characteristics to the reliability of survey attitude measurement. To test these hypotheses, reliability is estimated for 96 survey attitude measures using data from five, 3-wave national reinterview surveys-three Michigan Election Panel Surveys and two reinterview studies conducted by the General Social Survey. As hypothesized, a number of attributes of questions are linked to estimated reliability. Attitude questions with more response options tended to have higher reliabilities, although there are some important exceptions. More extensive verbal labeling of numbered response options was found to be associated with higher reliability, but questions explicitly offering a “don't know” alternative were not found to be more reliable. Question characteristics were confounded to an unknown degree with topic differences of questions, which were significantly linked to reliability, leaving the influence of question characteristics on reliability somewhat ambiguous. Characteristics of respondents were also found to be related to levels of reliability. Older respondents and those with less schooling provided the least reliable attitude reports. These results are discussed within a general framework for the consideration of survey errors and their sources.

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Research works printed but not linked: 11

  1. Alwin, D. F., annual meetings of the American Association of Public Opinion Research
  2. Bohrnstedt, G. W., Attitude Measurement, 80
  3. Jöreskog, K. G., LISREL VI. Analysis of Linear Structural Relationships by Maximum Likelihood, Instrumental Variables, and Least Squares Methods
  4. Muthén, Bengt, LISCOMP: Analysis of Linear Structural Equations Using a Comprehensive Measurement Model
  5. Rodgers, W. L., “Quality of Survey Measures: A Structural Modeling Approach.”
  6. Rodgers, W. L., “Measurement Error in Interviews with Elderly Respondents.”
  7. Sherif, M., Social Judgement: Assimilation and Contrast Effects in Communication and Attitude Change
  8. Smith, T. W., annual meetings of the American Sociological Association
  9. Smith, T. W. and C. B. Stephenson. 1979. “An Analysis of Test/Retest Experiments on the 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1978 General Social Surveys.” GSS Technical Report, No. 14, December, Chicago: National Opinion Research Center.
  10. Weisberg, H. F., “Evaluation of the Feeling Thermometer: A Report to the National Election Study Board Based on Data from the 1979 Pilot Survey.”
  11. Zaller, J., annual meetings of the American Political Science Association

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Metadata

Authors
ALWIN, D. F., & KROSNICK, J. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • The Ohio State University (US)
ORCID
KROSNICK, JON A.
Venue
Sociological Methods & Research
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
1991-08
Volume
20
Issue
1
Pages
139-181
ISSN
  • 0049-1241 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-8294
DOI
10.1177/0049124191020001005
OpenAlex
W2137597548
Cited by
403
References
74
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 17
FWCI
7.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Sociological Methods & Research (publishedVersion)
  • Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Survey Methodology and Nonresponse
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Survey Sampling and Estimation Techniques
Keywords
survey reliability, attitude measurement, question characteristics, response options, respondent characteristics, age effects, educational attainment, survey error, General Social Survey

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