End-digits preference for self-reported height depends on language

摘要: When individuals report figures, they often prefer to round specific end-digits (e.g. zero). Such preference has been found in reports of body weight, cigarette consumption or blood pressure measurements. Very little is known about self-reported height. End-digit can distort estimates prevalence and other statistical parameters. This study examines end-digit for height how it relates with sex, age, educational level cultural affiliation. We analysed 47,192 (aged 15 years older) living Switzerland participating one the three population-based Swiss Health Surveys carried out 1992/93, 1997 2002 respectively. Digit preferences were by age group, level, survey, smoking status, interview language (only nationals) nationality. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) 95% confidence interval calculated using multivariate logistic regression. Italian French nationals (44.1% 40.6%) (39.6% 35.3%) more strongly preferred zero five than Germans German (29.2% 30.3%). Two, four, six eight popular (both 44.4%). Compared (OR = 1), five, OR 1.50 (1.38–1.63) 1.24 (1.18–1.30) Swiss; 1.73 (1.58–1.89) 1.61 (1.33–1.95) nationals. The two, showed an opposite pattern. Different depending on nationality could be observed consistently all national health surveys. patterns strikingly similar foreign speaking same language, suggesting that rather Taking into account rounding allow valid comparisons analyses data originating from different cultures.