Social Desirability Bias in Sexual Behavior Reporting: Evidence from an Interview Mode Experiment in Rural Malawi [

Abstract

CONTEXT Social desirability bias is problematic in studies that rely on self-reported sexual behavior data. Where gender norms create different expectations about socially acceptable behavior, males and females face distinct pressures in reporting certain outcomes, which can distort assessments of risk for HIV and STIs. METHODS In 2009, relationship and sexual behavior data were collected from 1,750 never-married males and females aged 16–18 via audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (audio-CASI) during the third round of the Malawi Schooling and Adolescent Study. A comparison group of 311 youth completed an identical questionnaire in face-to-face interviews. To assess whether interview mode may have influenced participants’ reporting of sensitive behavior, reports of sexual experience in the two groups were compared. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify associations between interview mode and reports of these behaviors, by gender. RESULTS In adjusted regression models, males were less likely to report ever having had a girlfriend in audio-CASI than in face-to-face interviews (odds ratio, 0.4), but they were more likely to report having had sex with a relative or teacher (3.5). For females, reports of ever having had a boyfriend or having had sex did not differ between modes. A small proportion of females reported ever having had sex with a relative or teacher in audio-CASI, while none did so in face-to-face interviews. CONCLUSIONS The method used for collecting relationship and sexual behavior data may influence the reported prevalence of some key behaviors, particularly among males. Further research is needed to improve methods of collecting sensitive data.

Impact of a Text-Messaging Program on Adolescent Reproductive Health: A Cluster–Randomized Trial in Ghana

“…To mitigate misreporting concerns, all questions at the 15-month follow-ups were asked via self-administered tablet computers, which have been shown to increase honesty in adolescent responses of sexual behavior. 27 Nevertheless, self-reported sexual behavioral data among adolescents has been found in other contexts to suffer from recall error, misunderstanding, and social desirability bias; biological markers of pregnancy and sexual health are needed to better understand the health impact of the programs. 28 In addition, the 15-month questionnaire elicited respondents' primary use of contraception; if some women used multiple methods, we could have underestimated the impact of the intervention on use of condoms, birth control, and emergency contraception.…”

Disclosure of sensitive behaviors across self-administered survey modes: a meta-analysis

“…Existing evidence on the inclusion of an audio component in computerized surveying is mixed. Some studies that compared audio-enhanced computer surveys to interviewer-administered surveys found higher prevalence rates of sensitive behaviors in computerized interviews (e.g., Des Jarlais et al, 1999;Gorbach et al, 2013;Kelly, Soler-Hampejsek, Mensch, & Hewett, 2013;Turner et al, 1998;Yeganeh et al, 2013). However, these studies confounded the effects of audio-enhancement with self-administration.…”

Kuantim mi tu (“Count me too”): Using Multiple Methods to Estimate the Number of Female Sex Workers, Men Who Have Sex With Men, and Transgender Women in Papua New Guinea in 2016 and 2017 (Preprint)

“…This social desirability bias could be mitigated in the future through the use of computer-assisted self-interviews. [22][23][24] The unique object multiplier relies on separate, accurate reporting of keychains given out by distributors and keychains received by KP. We cannot know for certain whether all keychains that were said to be distributed were actually given, that individuals received only one keychain each, or how many keychain recipients were simply ineligible for the survey.…”