Effects of Method on Participants and Disclosure Rates in Research on Sensitive Topics

• NCJ Number: 215103
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2006 Pages: 499-506
• Author(s): Madhavi K. Reddy M.A.; Matthew T. Fleming M.A.; Nicolette L. Howells M.A.; Mandy M. Rabenhorst Ph.D.; Robert Casselman M.A.; Alan Rosenbaum Ph.D.
• Date Published: August 2006
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study replicated and extended a previous research project that compared the automated telephonic data collection (ATDC) system to the three most common methods of data collection (in-person interview, telephone interview, and paper-and-pencil questionnaire) for collecting self-report data on topics of social sensitivity.

Abstract

Results indicated that participants were more likely to disclose information on sensitive topics via the ATDC system than via face-to-face interviews or paper-and-pencil methods. Other findings revealed that participants in the ATDC condition felt more comfortable than those in the face-to-face interview condition and that participants in the telephone interview condition reported answering with significantly more care than participants in the written questionnaire condition. The results replicate the previous research findings that suggest the ATDC method of data collection can produce disclosure rates for sensitive information that are equivalent to or better than those produced using traditional data collection methods. Participants were 398 undergraduate students recruited from an introductory psychology course at a large midwestern university. Participants were randomly assigned to complete identical Likert-type questionnaires using one of four methods: (1) in-person interview; (2) telephone interview; (3) paper-and-pencil questionnaire; or (4) ATDC system. Questionnaires contained six topic areas of increasing social sensitivity, including study habits, drug and alcohol use, and both victimization and perpetration of physical and sexual abuse. A followup survey questioned participants about their perception of the confidentiality of the study, their comfort in responding to the questions, their honesty in responding to the questions, and how carefully they listened to the questions. Data analysis included the use of descriptive statistics and analysis of variances. Figure, table, references