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Vague Quantifiers Demonstrate Little Susceptibility to Frame of Reference Effects

Author

Listed:
  • Marta Walentynowicz

    (University of Southern California
    KU Leuven)

  • Stefan Schneider

    (University of Southern California)

  • Doerte U. Junghaenel

    (University of Southern California)

  • Arthur A. Stone

    (University of Southern California
    University of Southern California)

Abstract

Comparison standards that people use when responding to survey questions, also called Frames of Reference (FoRs), can influence the validity of self-report responses. The effects of FoRs might be the strongest for items using vague quantifier (VQ) scales, which are particularly prominent in quality of life research, compared with numeric responses. This study aims to investigate the impact of FoRs on self-report measures by examining how imposing a specific FoR in survey questions affects (a) the response levels of VQ and numeric scales and (b) the relationship between VQs and a quantitative responses to the same question. A sample of 1869 respondents rated their education, commute and sleep duration, medication use, and level of physical activity using both VQ and numeric formats. Participants were asked to compare themselves with the average US adult, with their friends who are about their age, or did not receive specific instructions regarding a reference for comparison. We found that FoR conditions did not influence the numeric responses. Among the VQ responses, only education attainment was affected by FoR. The association between the numeric responses and vague quantifiers was comparable across different FoR conditions. Our results showed that manipulating the use of interpersonal FoRs had limited effect on the responses, which suggests that at least some comparisons do not have a strong biasing effect on self-report measures. However, future research should confirm this finding for using other FoRs (e.g., historical or hypothetical comparisons) and other outcome measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Marta Walentynowicz & Stefan Schneider & Doerte U. Junghaenel & Arthur A. Stone, 2022. "Vague Quantifiers Demonstrate Little Susceptibility to Frame of Reference Effects," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(1), pages 317-331, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:17:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s11482-020-09889-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-020-09889-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Doerte U. Junghaenel & Joan E. Broderick & Stefan Schneider & Marcella May & Alicia Bolton & Kelly P. McCarrier & Larissa M. Stassek & Sarah C. Keithly & Arthur A. Stone, 2018. "Frames of Reference in Self-Reports of Health, Well-Being, Fatigue, and Pain: a Qualitative Examination," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 13(3), pages 585-601, September.
    2. Kaplan, Giora & Baron-Epel, Orna, 2003. "What lies behind the subjective evaluation of health status?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 56(8), pages 1669-1676, April.
    3. Paul T E Cusack, 2020. "On Pain," Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, Biomedical Research Network+, LLC, vol. 31(3), pages 24253-24254, October.
    4. Ania Filus & Doerte U. Junghaenel & Stefan Schneider & Joan E. Broderick & Arthur A. Stone, 2020. "Age Effects of Frames of Reference in Self-Reports of Health, Well-Being, Fatigue and Pain," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(1), pages 35-54, March.
    5. Berinsky, Adam J. & Huber, Gregory A. & Lenz, Gabriel S., 2012. "Evaluating Online Labor Markets for Experimental Research: Amazon.com's Mechanical Turk," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(3), pages 351-368, July.
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