title: Response of sensitive behaviors to frequent measurement.
abstract: We study the influence of frequent survey measurement on behavior. Widespread access to the Internet has made important breakthroughs in frequent measurement possible-potentially revolutionizing social science measurement of processes that change quickly over time. One key concern about using such frequent measurement is that it may influence the behavior being studied. We investigate this possibility using both a population-based experiment with random assignment to participation in a weekly journal for twelve months (versus no journal) and a large-scale, population-based, journal-keeping study with weekly measurement for 30 months. Results reveal few of the measured behaviors are correlated with assignment to frequent measurement. Theoretical reasoning regarding the likely behavioral response to frequent measurement correctly predicts domains most vulnerable to this possibility. Overall, however, we found little evidence of behavioral response to frequent measurement.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Survey Research Center, 426 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2321, United States. Electronic address: baxinn@umich.edu.
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Axinn
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina, Carolina Population Center, 123 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516-2524, United States. Electronic address: elysejen@live.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Elyse A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Survey Research Center, 426 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2321, United States. Electronic address: mcouper@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Mick P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Couper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D057566:Self Report; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Journal-keeping; Measurement effects; Survey methodology