Work

The Effect of Rapport on Data Quality in Face-to-Face Interviews: Beneficial or Detrimental?

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: The benefits of rapport between interviewers and respondents, in terms of recruiting the latter and motiving them to participate in research, have been generally endorsed. However, there has been less clarity with regard to the association between rapport and data quality. In theory, rapport could be beneficial if it motivates people to give complete and honest responses. On the other hand, efforts to maintain rapport by exhibiting pleasing and socially desirable behaviour could well be detrimental to data quality. In a large longitudinal epidemiological sample, generalized estimating equations (GEE) analyses were used to examine the association between rapport and the following three quality indicators: missing responses, responses to sensitive questions, and consistency of responses. The results of these analyses indicate an association between a high level of rapport and fewer missing responses. In contrast, we found more socially desirable responses for the high-rapport group. Finally, the high-rapport group did not differ from the low-rapport group in terms of the consistency of their responses.

Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010858

Authors: Melany Horsfall, Merijn Eikelenboom, Stasja Draisma, Johannes H. Smit

Institutions: Amsterdam Public Health, GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Language: English

Topic: Survey Methodology and Nonresponse

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,484