Effects of Presenting One versus Two Sides of an Issue in Survey Questions

In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 46, Heft 1, S. 69-85

Abstract

Data from a split-ballot experiment show that offering Rs an alternative position on an issue not only affects the marginals, but also influences whether Rs will give an opinion at all. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that these form effects can occur despite the use of filter questions that theoretically screen out those who tend to be most susceptible to such effects: the less educated or uninformed. The analysis does not provide evidence, however, that less educated Rs are indeed more affected by differences in question format & that they are much more likely to "acquiesce" to one-sided agree/disagree forms. In discussing the results, an information-processing model of question form effects & a methodological strategy to generate further research on a much-needed theory of the survey instrument are developed. 4 Tables, Appendix. HA.