{"title":"Scale-sensitive response behavior!? Consequences of offering versus omitting a “don’t know” option and/or a middle category","authors":"Daniela Wetzelhütter","doi":"10.29115/sp-2020-0012","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"The effect of a “don’t know” option (DK-O) and of a “middle category” (MC) on the survey response has been frequently examined. While researchers agree on some points, they disagree on how these options should be interpreted. For instance, a DK-O or MC may not necessarily be chosen due to a lack of a neutral/moderate opinion. This article addresses the consequences of offering versus omitting a MC or/and a DK-O. Data were collected by means of an online survey dealing with student participation (n=1,282). The results showed respondents who choose a DK-O may not have a neutral opinion. Conversely, respondents who choose a MC may not necessarily be undecided.","PeriodicalId":74893,"journal":{"name":"Survey practice","volume":"13 1","pages":"14484"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2020-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"3","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Survey practice","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.29115/sp-2020-0012","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 3
Abstract
The effect of a “don’t know” option (DK-O) and of a “middle category” (MC) on the survey response has been frequently examined. While researchers agree on some points, they disagree on how these options should be interpreted. For instance, a DK-O or MC may not necessarily be chosen due to a lack of a neutral/moderate opinion. This article addresses the consequences of offering versus omitting a MC or/and a DK-O. Data were collected by means of an online survey dealing with student participation (n=1,282). The results showed respondents who choose a DK-O may not have a neutral opinion. Conversely, respondents who choose a MC may not necessarily be undecided.