The General Social Survey asked, "About how often did you...

The General Social Survey asked, "About how often did you have sex in the past 12 months?" About $47 \%$ of respondents indicated they had sex at least once a week. In a Web survey for a marriage and family wellness center, respondents were asked, "How often do you and your partner have $\operatorname{sex}$ (on average)?" About $31 \%$ of respondents indicated they had sex with their partner at least once a week. Explain how the delivery method for such a question could result in biased responses.

Key Concepts

Survey Mode Effects

This concept describes how the mode of data collection—whether face?to?face, telephone, online, or paper surveys—can influence the responses that are obtained. Different modes offer varying levels of perceived anonymity and comfort, which in turn can lead individuals to answer sensitive questions differently. The differences in surveying techniques may affect response accuracy, especially when questions involve personal or socially sensitive topics.

Social Desirability Bias

Social desirability bias occurs when respondents give answers that they believe will be viewed favorably by others rather than providing truthful responses. In contexts where the subject matter is sensitive, such as questions about sexual activity, the mode of delivery (e.g., an online survey versus a more public setting) can significantly impact the likelihood of this bias. The perceived level of privacy can either encourage honest reporting or lead respondents to alter their answers to fit social expectations.

Sampling Bias

Sampling bias refers to the distortion of statistical analysis resulting from the method of collecting samples. If the respondents in a survey are not representative of the broader population—such as when a survey is conducted within a specific group with particular characteristics—results may be skewed. This bias is particularly relevant when comparing results from different survey administrations that target varying populations or use different sampling strategies.

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