Placebo statements in list experiments: Evidence from a face-to-face survey in Singapore

• DOI: 10.1017/psrm.2020.18
• Publication Date: 2020-05-15T12:02:00Z
• Authors: Guillem Riambau; Kai Ostwald
• Keywords: Statement (logic); Survey data collection

Abstract List experiments are a widely used survey technique for estimating the prevalence of socially sensitive attitudes or behaviors. Their design, however, makes them vulnerable to bias: because treatment group respondents see greater number items ( J + 1) than control ), mean may be mechanically inflated due simply items. The few previous studies that directly examine this do not arrive at definitive conclusions. We find clear evidence inflation in an original dataset, though only among with low educational attainment. Furthermore, we use available data from and similar heterogeneous patterns. effects has implications interpretation research using list experiments, especially developing world contexts. recommend simple solution: necessarily false placebo statement equalizes lengths, thereby protecting against mechanical without imposing costs altering interpretations.