How do you address potential biases related to priming or context effects in public opinion research?

Sample interview questions: How do you address potential biases related to priming or context effects in public opinion research?

Sample answer:

Addressing Potential Biases in Public Opinion Research

Priming and context effects can introduce biases into public opinion surveys by influencing respondents’ answers based on the order or framing of questions. To address these biases, researchers employ several strategies:

  • Question Order Effects:

    • Randomized Question Ordering: Questions are randomized to minimize the impact of question order on responses.
    • Inclusion of Buffer Questions: Neutral questions are inserted between prime and target questions to reduce priming effects.
  • Context Effects:

    • Counterbalancing: Creating multiple versions of the survey with different question orderings or contexts and comparing the results.
    • Varying Response Options: Including different response options or scales to assess the stability of responses across contexts.
    • Including Manipulations Checks: Incorporating questions that explicitly ask respondents about their perceptions of the survey context or priming effects.
  • Additional Considerations:

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