Response bias

Definition

Response bias is a systematic tendency to answer questions on a survey or in research inaccurately or misleadingly. It can significantly affect the validity and reliability of data collected in political science studies, especially those related to public opinion and political participation.

Related terms

Survey Design:

The process of creating surveys in a way that aims to accurately capture respondents' true opinions or behaviors without leading to significant biases.

Sampling Error: A statistical error that occurs when a sample does not representatively reflect its target population, potentially leading to inaccurate results.

Social Desirability Bias:

A type of response bias where respondents answer questions in a manner they deem socially acceptable rather than truthfully