Social desirability bias in voter turnout reports Tests using the item count technique

摘要: Surveys usually yield rates of voting in elections that are higher than official turnout figures, a phenomenon often attributed to in- tentional misrepresentation by respondents who did not vote and would be embarrassed admit that. The experiments reported here tested the social desirability response bias hypothesis directly implementing technique allowed report secretly whether they voted: "item count technique." item signifi- cantly reduced reports national telephone survey relative direct self-reports, suggesting influ- enced self-reports survey. But eight surveys American adults conducted via Internet, significantly reduce reports. This mode difference is consis- tent with other evidence Internet may less suscep- tible because self-administration. Self-reports have overestimated voter turnout, researchers speculated this occur partly some tentionally misreport voted wish portray them- selves admirable ways (Corbett 1991; Lyons Scheb 1999; Aarts 2002; Brockington Karp Andolina et al. 2003; Lutz Blais