Response bias occurs when the answers given by survey respondents do not accurately reflect their true beliefs or experiences. It can happen due to various factors such as social desirability, leading questions, or respondent fatigue.
Related terms
Social Desirability Bias: This bias refers to the tendency of respondents to provide answers that they believe will be seen favorably by others.
Leading Questions: These are questions that subtly steer respondents towards a particular answer by including biased language or assumptions.
Respondent Fatigue: This occurs when participants become tired or bored during a long survey, leading them to rush through the remaining questions or provide careless responses.