The survey researcher who attempts to collect injormation on sensitive topics usually encounters resistance on the part of potential respondents. Subjects frequently either refuse to answer sensitive questions or give untruthful answers. The randomized response technique has been developed to facilitate the collection of sensitive information. Takahasi and Sakasegawa (1977) developed a variant of the randomized response technique that they claim to be suitable for selfadministered telephone interviews and mail surveys. A field test of the Takahasi-Sakasegawa technique cast doubt on its usefulness with self-administered and mail surveys with certain American respondents.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
HAIR, J. F., Jr.
, R. F. BUSH, and P. BUSCH (1976) “Employee theft: views from two sides.”Business Horizons19 (December): 25-29.
2.
Industry Week (1972) “Employee theft skyrockets; sharp eye is best solution.”March 20: 26.
3.
McCLINTICK, D.
(1970) “The upsurge in employee theft.”Management Rev.59: 60.
4.
SAKASEGAWA, H.
, K. TAKAHASI, and T. SUZUKI (1977) “An investigation of a new randomized response model.”The Institute of Statistical Mathematics.
5.
TAKAHASI, K.
and H. SAKASEGAWA (1977) “A randomized response technique without making use of any randomizing device.”Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics29: 1-8.
6.
TATHAM, R. L.
(1974) “Employee views on theft in retailing.”J. of Retailing50 (Fall): 49-55.
7.
TRACY, P. E.
and COX, J. A. (1981) “The validity of randomized response for sensitive measurements.”Amer. Soc. Rev.262 (April): 187-200.
8.
U.S. News and World Report (1971) “Why employees steal.” May 3: 78.
9.
WARNER, S. L.
(1965) “Randomized response—a survey technique for eliminating evasive answer bias.”J. of the Amer. Statistical Association60: 63-69.
10.
ZEITLIN, L. R.
(1971) “A little larceny can do a lot for employee morale.”Psychology Today5 (June): 22-24.
