Skip to main content
Log in

How to Improve the Efficiency of Randomised Response Designs

  • Published:
Quality and Quantity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper describes ways to maximise the efficiency of randomised response designs. When randomised response designs become more efficient their value as a tool to study sensitive topics will increase. An overview of the literature shows that when sensitive or incriminating topics are studied, the overall results of randomised response studies are more valid than the results of direct question designs. This positive effect is small, however, and randomised response designs are known to be less efficient than direct question designs, making it necessary to recruit larger samples. In this paper the efficiency of six randomised response methods (Warner’s design, both forms of the unrelated question technique, the forced response technique, Moors’s design and Mangat’s improved model) will be compared relative to direct question designs. Using the right design parameters we can make randomised response studies up to twice as efficient. The forced response method and a special form of the unrelated question design are the most efficient designs until now.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • R.F. Antonak H. Livneh (1995) ArticleTitleRandomised response technique: A review and proposed extension to disability attitude research Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs 121 97–145

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Boeije G.J.L.M. Lensvelt-Mulders (2002) ArticleTitleHonest by chance: A qualitative interview study to clarify respondents’ (non-)compliance with computer assisted randomised response Bulletin Methodologie Sociologique 75(July) 24–39

    Google Scholar 

  • R.F. Boruch (1971) ArticleTitleAssuring confidentiality of responses in social research: A note on strategies The American Sociologist 6(November) 308–311

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Chaudhuri R. Mukerjee (1988) Randomized response: Theory and techniques Marcel Dekker New York

    Google Scholar 

  • S.J. Clark R.A. Desharnais (1998) ArticleTitleHonest answers to embarrassing questions: Detecting cheating in the randomised response model Psychological Methods 3 IssueID2 160–168 Occurrence Handle10.1037//1082-989X.3.2.160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D. Finkelhor I.A. Lewis (1988) ArticleTitleAn epidemiological approach to the study of child molestation Annals of the New York Academy of Science. 14 19–40

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Fisher L.B. Kupferman M. Lesser (1992) ArticleTitleSubstance use in a school-based clinic population: Use of the randomised response technique to estimate prevalence Journal of Adolescent Health 13 281–285 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By2A3cvpvVI%3D Occurrence Handle1610843

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J.A. Fox P.E. Tracy (1986) Randomised Response: A Method for Sensitive Surveys Sage Publications Beverly Hills

    Google Scholar 

  • B.V. Greenberg A.A. Abdul-Ela W.R. Simmons D.G. Horvitz (1969) ArticleTitleThe unrelated question randomised response model: Theoretical framework Journal of the American Statistical Association 66 243–250

    Google Scholar 

  • B.G. Greenberg R.R. Kuebler J.R. Abernathy D.G. Horvitz (1971) ArticleTitleApplication of the randomised response technique in obtaining quantitative data Journal of the American Statistical Association 66 IssueID334 243–248

    Google Scholar 

  • P.G.M.v.d. Heijden G.v. Gils (1996) Some logistic regression models for randomised response data A Forcina G.M. Marcheti r. Hatzinger G Galmatti (Eds) Statistical modeling. Proceedings of the 11th International Workshop on Statistical Modeling. Orvieto Italy 341–348

    Google Scholar 

  • P.G.M.v.d. Heijden G.v. Gils J. Bouts J. Hox (1998) ArticleTitleA comparison of randomised response, CASAQ, and direct questioning; eliciting sensitive information in the context of fraud Kwantitatieve Methoden 19 15–34

    Google Scholar 

  • D.G. Horvitz B.V. Shah W.R. Simmons (1967) The unrelated question randomised response model Proceedings of the Social Statistics Section ASA. 65–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarman, B. J. (1997). The Prevalence and Precedence of Socially Condoned Sexual agression Within a Dating Context as Measured by Direct Questioning and the Randomised response Technique.

  • M.K. Kendall A. Stuart (1979) The Advanced Theory of Statistics, Vol. 2 Macmillan New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • A.Y.C. Kuk (1990) ArticleTitleAsking sensitive questions indirectly Biometrika 77 IssueID2 436–438 Occurrence HandleMR1064822

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • G.J.L.M. Lensvelt-Mulders J.J. Hox P.G.M. Heijden Particlevan der C.J.M. Maas (2005) ArticleTitleMeta-Analysis of Randomized Response Research: Thirty-Five Years of Validation Sociological Methods & Research 33 319–348

    Google Scholar 

  • G.S. Maddala (1983) Limited Dependent and Qualitative Variables in Econometrics Cambridge University Press Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • N.S. Mangat R. Singh (1990) ArticleTitleAn alternative randomised response procedure Biometrica 77 IssueID2 439–442

    Google Scholar 

  • N.S. Mangat (1994) ArticleTitleAn improved randomised response strategy Journal of the Royal Statistic society of Britain 56 IssueID1 93–95

    Google Scholar 

  • J.J.A. Moors (1971) ArticleTitleOptimization of the unrelated question randomised response model Journal of the American Statistical Association 66 IssueID335 627–629

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasinski, K. A., Willis, G. B., Baldwin, A. K., Yeh, W., Lee, L. (1999). Methods of datacollection, perception of risks and losses, and motivation to give truthful answers to sensitive survey questions. Applied Cognitive Psychology. 465–484.

  • K.L. Soeken G.B. Macready (1982) ArticleTitleRespondents’ perceived protection when using randomised response. psychological Bulletin 92 487–498 Occurrence Handle10.1037//0033-2909.92.2.487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S. Sudman N.M. Bradburn (1982) Asking Questions: A Practical Guide to Questionnaire Design Jossey Bases San Fransisco

    Google Scholar 

  • U.N. Umesh R.A. Peterson (1991) ArticleTitleA critical evaluation of the randomised response method Sociological Methods and Research 20 IssueID1 104–138

    Google Scholar 

  • P.G.M. VanderHeijden G. Van Gils J. Bouts J.J. Hox (2000) ArticleTitleA comparison of randomized response, computer-assisted self-interview, and face-to-face direct questioning Sociological Methods and Research 28 505–537

    Google Scholar 

  • B.J. Volicer L. Volicer (1982) ArticleTitleRandomised response technique for estimating alcohol use and non compliance in hypertensives Journal of Studies in Alcohol 43 739–750 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiyC28rltF0%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • S.L. Warner (1965) ArticleTitleRandomised response: A survey technique for eliminating evasive answer bias Journal of the American Statistical Association 60 63–69 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD38rhvVOltQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12261830

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • S.L. Warner (1971) ArticleTitleThe linear randomised response model Journal of the American Statistical Association 66 IssueID(336 884–888

    Google Scholar 

  • A.N. Weissman R.A. Steer D.S. Lipton (1986) ArticleTitleEstimating illicit drug use through telephone interviews and the randomised response technique Drug and Alcohol Dependence 18 225–233 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0376-8716(86)90054-2 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiiC3crgsFM%3D Occurrence Handle3803193

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • B.L. Williams H. Suen (1994) ArticleTitleA methodological comparison of survey techniques in obtaining self-reports of condom-related behaviors Psychological Reports 7 1531–1537

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gerty J. L. M. Lensvelt-Mulders.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lensvelt-Mulders, G.J.L.M., Hox, J.J. & Heijden, P.G.M.v.d. How to Improve the Efficiency of Randomised Response Designs. Qual Quant 39, 253–265 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-004-0432-3

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-004-0432-3

Keywords

Navigation