What is a Randomized Response Model?
A randomized response model is a survey technique designed to protect the anonymity of respondents. It is a way of asking sensitive questions in a survey without the respondent having to reveal their true answers. By randomizing the responses, researchers can accurately measure the prevalence of sensitive behaviors and attitudes without putting the respondent at risk of judgement or retribution.
How Does it Work?
In a randomized response model, the respondent is presented with a series of questions and given a set of possible answers to choose from. The answers are randomized, so that the respondent does not know which answer corresponds to the true answer to the sensitive question. The respondent is then asked to select one of the answers, without knowing which answer is the accurate one.
Examples of Randomized Response Model
A classic example of a randomized response model is the “yes-no” technique. In this technique, the respondent is asked a sensitive question and then given two possible answers: “Yes” and “No”. The respondent then randomly selects one of the answers, without knowing which answer corresponds to the true answer. Another example is the “coin-flip” technique. In this technique, the respondent is asked a sensitive question and then given two possible answers: “Heads” and “Tails”. The respondent then flips a coin and randomly selects one of the answers, without knowing which answer corresponds to the true answer.
Advantages of Randomized Response Model
Randomized response models have many advantages over traditional survey techniques. They allow researchers to accurately measure the prevalence of sensitive behaviors or attitudes without putting the respondent at risk of judgement or retribution. They also provide a level of anonymity that traditional surveys cannot, which can make respondents more comfortable and honest when answering sensitive questions.
Conclusion
Randomized response models are a powerful survey technique that allows researchers to accurately measure the prevalence of sensitive behaviors or attitudes without putting the respondent at risk of judgement or retribution. By randomizing the responses, researchers can ensure that respondents can answer sensitive questions honestly and anonymously.
References
1. Fowler, F. J. (1995). Survey Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 2. Kish, L. (1995). Survey Sampling. New York: John Wiley & Sons. 3. Kreuter, F. and L. Waksberg (2008). Handbook of Survey Research, 2nd Edition. Amsterdam: Elsevier.