Response of Sensitive Behaviors to Frequent Measurement

Citation

Axinn, William G.; Jennings, Elyse A.; & Couper, Mick P. (2015). Response of Sensitive Behaviors to Frequent Measurement. Social Science Research, 49, 1-15. PMCID: PMC4247852

Abstract

We study the influence of frequent survey measurement on behavior. Widespread access to the Internet has made important breakthroughs in frequent measurement possible—potentially revolutionizing social science measurement of processes that change quickly over time. One key concern about using such frequent measurement is that it may influence the behavior being studied. We investigate this possibility using both a population-based experiment with random assignment to participation in a weekly journal for twelve months (versus no journal) and a large-scale, population-based, journal-keeping study with weekly measurement for 30 months. Results reveal few of the measured behaviors are correlated with assignment to frequent measurement. Theoretical reasoning regarding the likely behavioral response to frequent measurement correctly predicts domains most vulnerable to this possibility. Overall, however, we found little evidence of behavioral response to frequent measurement.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2014.07.002

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2015

Journal Title

Social Science Research

Author(s)

Axinn, William G.
Jennings, Elyse A.
Couper, Mick P.

PMCID

PMC4247852