www.frederikfunke.de


home

 

Evaluating the influence of visual analogue scales on response behavior
Frederik Funke & Ulf-Dietrich Reips

Paper presented at the 37th annual conference of the Society for Computers in Psychology (SCiP)
November 15, 2007 in Long Beach, CA (USA)


 

Abstract
 
In the present paper we report empirical data from experiments that examine the impact of visual analogue scales (VAS) and categorical scales on response behavior in self- administered Web questionnaires. In a split ballot design respondents were randomized to either a questionnaire with VAS or to 7-point radio button scales. We examine the following response behaviors and effects as indicators of previously discussed cognitive processes (Sudman, Bradburn, & Schwarz, 1996) that may precede a response: dropout, question order effects (assimilation and contrast effects), item nonresponse, satisficing behavior and response latency. Impact of format on data quality is discussed.