Survey Research
Anchoring Vignettes
Methods for when different respondents (perhaps from different
cultures, countries, or ethnic groups), or respondents and
investigators, understand survey questions in different ways. Also
includes an approach to developing theoretical definitions of
complicated concepts apparently definable only by example (i.e., "you
know it when you see it").
- The original article that lays out the idea, develops the basic
models, and gives examples. Gary King; Christopher J.L. Murray;
Joshua A. Salomon; and Ajay Tandon. "Enhancing
the Validity and Cross-cultural Comparability of Measurement in
Survey Research," American Political Science
Review, Vol. 97, No. 4 (December, 2003), 567-584; reprinted,
with printing errors corrected, Vol. 98, No. 1 (February, 2004):
191-207. (Abstract: HTML | Article: PDF)
- Develops methods for selecting vignettes and new, simpler,
nonparametric methods requiring fewer assumptions for analyzing
anchoring vignettes data. Gary King and Jonathan
Wand. "Comparing Incomparable Survey
Responses: New Tools for Anchoring Vignettes,"
Political Analysis, 15, 1 (Winter, 2007): Pp. 46-66.
(Abstract: HTML | Article: PDF)
- Daniel Hopkins and Gary King, "Improving
Anchoring Vignettes: Designing Surveys to Correct Interpersonal
Incomparability," (Abstract:
HTML | Paper: PDF)
- Many more details, examples, videos, software, etc. can be found at the
The Anchoring Vignettes Website: HTML
How Surveys Work
- D. Steven Voss; Andrew Gelman; and Gary King. Pre-Election Survey Methodology: Details From Nine
Polling Organizations, 1988 and 1992,
Public Opinion Quarterly, Vol. 59 (1995):
Pp. 98-132. (Abstract: HTML |
Article:
PDF)
- Resolution of a paradox in the study of American
voting behavior. Gelman, Andrew and Gary King. Why
Are American Presidential Election Campaign Polls So Variable When
Votes are So Predictable?, British Journal of Political
Science, Vol. 23, No. 1 (October, 1993): Pp. 409-451. (Abstract: HTML | Article: PDF)
Related Research
- Imputing Missing Data due to survey
nonresponse: Website
- Analyzing Rare Events, including rare
survey outcomes and alternative methods of sampling for rare
events: Website
- Estimating Mortality by Survey using
surveys
of siblings or other groups, as well as methods designed for
estimating cause-specific mortality that applies more generally
for extrapolating from one population to another: Website