Deanna C. Denman|Austin S. Baldwin|Andrea C. Betts|Amy McQueen|Jasmin A. Tiro
Reducing “I Don’t Know” Responses and Missing Survey Data: Implications for Measurement
Southern Methodist University|Southern Methodist University|The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center|University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas|Washington University in St. Louis|The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
dont know dk responses common health behavior research yet analytic approaches managing dk responses may undermine survey validity researchers ability interpret findingscompare usefulness methodological strategy reducing dk responses 3 analytic approaches 1 excluding dks missing data 2 recoding neutral point response scale 3 recoding dks meanwe used 4group design compare methodological strategy encourages use response scale initial dk response 3 methods analytically treating dk responses examined 1 whether methodological strategy reduced frequency dk responses 2 methodological strategy compared common analytic treatments terms factor structure strength correlations measures constructsthe prompt reduced dk response frequency 557 164 unprompted participants vs 196 102 prompted participants factorial invariance analyses suggested equivalence factor loadings constructs throughout groups compared excluding dks recoding strategies use prompt improved strength correlations constructs prompt resulting strongest correlations 589 benefits intentions 446 perceived susceptibility intentions 329 benefits perceived susceptibilitythis study designed priori test methods addressing dk responses analysis limited intervieweradministered survey interviewers probe reasons dk responsesfindings suggest use prompt reduce dk responses preferable analytic approaches treating dk responses use prompts may improve validity health behavior survey research