Feasibility of the Factorial Survey Method in Aging Research: Consistency Effects Among Older Respondents.
The factorial survey (FS) method is increasingly used in the social sciences. It is particularly suitable for studying decision situations that are difficult to assess empirically. This article evaluates whether the FS method is suitable for studying decisions in gerontological research.



The present article draws on data from the Housing Opportunities & Mobility in the Elderly study. A total of 103 respondents (between 55 and 90 years) were asked to make hypothetical relocation decisions. The consistency of these responses was assessed as a function of respondents' age, gender, immigration background, education, household income, employment status, and intention to move.



No significant differences in response consistency were attributable to age, gender, education, or immigration background. The personal relevance of the survey topic was positively related to response consistency in multiperson households.



FS method can, under certain methodological conditions, be used among older adults especially when the topic of the survey is relevant to their daily lives.
Institute of Medical Sociology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany andrea.teti@charite.de.
Andrea
A
Teti
Faculty of Law and Economics, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.
Christiane
C
Gross
Division of Health Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
Nina
N
Knoll
Institute of Medical Sociology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
Stefan
S
Blüher
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
decision making; elderly; housing; relocation