Types of Survey Bias
This bias occurs when survey participants do not accurately remember past events.
Recall Bias
This sampling method ensures every individual in a population has an equal chance of being selected.
What is simple random sampling?
A survey asks, “Do you support increasing police funding and expanding community programs?” making it difficult to answer if the respondent supports one but not the other.
What is a double-barreled question?
This type of research relies on numbers and statistical analysis.
What is quantitative research?
Researchers must obtain this before involving human subjects in a study.
What is informed consent?
This bias happens when individuals with strong opinions are more likely to respond to a survey.
What is self-selection bias?
This method divides a population into subgroups and samples each group proportionally.
What is stratified sampling?
A multiple-choice question about police satisfaction only includes positive response options like “Very Satisfied” and “Somewhat Satisfied.”
What is an unbalanced response set?
This type of research focuses on open-ended responses and themes.
What is qualitative research?
Researchers must protect participants' personal information.
What is confidentiality?
This bias occurs when survey responses are influenced by the order in which questions are asked.
What is order bias?
This sampling method involves existing participants recruiting others into the study.
What is snowball sampling?
A public safety survey asks, “Don’t you think crime has gotten worse in your area?” influencing respondents toward a particular viewpoint.
What is a leading question?
This research method combines both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
What is mixed-methods research?
This infamous 1971 experiment studied the psychological effects of perceived power but was criticized for ethical violations.
What is the Stanford Prison Experiment?
This bias occurs when researchers unintentionally influence survey responses based on their expectations.
What is observer bias?
A researcher selects participants by choosing every 10th person from a list.
What is systematic sampling?
A survey asks, "How do you feel about crime?" without specifying a particular type, location, or timeframe.
What is a too broad question?
A researcher conducts in-depth interviews to explore police officers’ perceptions of body cameras.
What is qualitative research?
Research involving prisoners must meet extra ethical standards due to this concern.
What is vulnerability of populations?
This bias happens when the wording of a question leads respondents toward a particular answer.
What is measurement bias?
Participants are recruited based on ease of access, often leading to bias.
What is convenience sampling?
A study uses poorly constructed survey questions that fail to accurately measure the concept being studied.
What is an internal validity issue?
A study collects crime rates from 50 cities and analyzes trends over time.
What is quantitative research?
This board reviews research studies to ensure ethical standards are met before approval.
What is the Institutional Review Board (IRB)