A NOTE ON THE RESPONSE EFFECTS OF LABORATORY-LOCATED VERSUS RESPONDENT-LOCATED COMPUTER-ADMINISTERED QUESTIONING

This article reports the results of a study of response effects owing to the use of computer-administered questioning (CAQ). Two types of CA Q were used: PCs used in a laboratory setting and notebook computers u sed in respondent locations. Note book computers used in respondent lo cations (much like personal interviews) resulted in the highest rate o f response: 73%. Two response effects were investigated, the degree of halo bias and degree of acquiescence. It was found that laboratory CA Q generated less halo and the same degree of acquiescence bias than di d the use of notebook computers, although the response rate for a labo ratory session was low. Both CAQ methods were preferable to the use of self-administered questionnaires. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1997.