This assignment began by reading a portion of an article written by professor Gernsbacher. Next, we had to make a discussion board post, speculating why research surveys conducted via text message rather than conducted via telephone are more accurate. More specifically, we had to describe why we think respondents are less likely to straightline, why we think respondents are less likely to satisfice, and why we think respondents are less likely to fall prey to socially desirable responding.
Professor Gernsbachers article segment starts by describing that the internet is manifesting the desire for writing instead of speaking. However, there has not been very much research on internet-based communication. However, Schober and Conrad moved their studies to the internet and phones, and have found out that surveys through text message tend to be more accurate than surveys over a phone call.
More specifically, over text, participants are less likely to straightline, or respond similarly to a grouping of items. Additionally, they are less likely to satisfice or round off answers. Finally, they are less likely to use socially desirable responding, or answering in ways that make them look good.
In my discussion board post, I thought that over text, people are less likely to straightline because they don’t feel as if they are rushed to answer the questions. When talking on the phone, if asked a question, you have to think of an answer quickly, and if you don’t you may worry about being judged. So, you may respond similarly to many questions so you don’t risk taking too long to think about your answers. However, over text, you have as much time as you want to respond, and it doesn’t feel as much like you are making someone wait, so people likely answer more realistically rather than giving repetitive responses.
I think one reason that respondents over text are less likely to satisfice is that they don’t feel as rushed as on a phone call, just like for the straightline issue. A second reason could be that people don’t know the answers right off the top of their head, so they have to give an estimate. Answering over text gives people the opportunity to find more exact information, since they may not know it off the top of their head, or may feel too rushed to think clearly.
I think text interviews would diminish socially desired responding because it feels like no one is speaking to them directly. They know they are answering a question, but in a sense, they don’t feel like they are talking directly to a human, so they aren’t as worried about being judged. It also makes it feel more anonymous, which generally allows people to be comfortable with telling the truth.
Reflecting on this assignment, it was really interesting to learn that changing the method of interviewing could lead to much more accurate results! This makes sense in concept, but I had never thought about it before. I had always pictures interviews for research to take place in person or over the phone. This assignment painted a new picture for research interviews, and it should be used more in the future.
Additionally, it was useful to discuss 3 relevant research terms. I am very familiar with socially desirable responding and straightlining, but reading about them gave me another chance to review them. I did not actually know what satisfice meant, so that was nice to learn, and can apply to research in which participants give their own answers.
Also, rather than taking information right from the article, it was nice that this assignment gave me the chance to speculate on my own about why text interviews led to these better outcomes. This allowed me to use my critical thinking skills, and use my knowledge from courses such as research methods as well as my life experiences.
This allowed me to learn some new information, review some old information, and connect different concepts together. This was definitely valuable to complete!
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