How sensitive are self-reports of offending?: the impact of recall periods on question sensitivity

Abstract

Although research on sensitive topics has produced a large body of knowledge on how to improve the quality of self-reported data, little is known regarding the sensitivity of offending questions, and much less is known regarding how topic sensitivity is affected by recall periods. In this study, we developed a multi-dimensional assessment of item sensitivity in order to assess and rank the sensitivity of offending and drug use items. Second, to explore the impact of recall period on respondents' perceptions of question sensitivity, we have experimentally compared questions with different time frames (i.e. lifetime, past-year, and past-month). Our results provided a ranking of sensitivity of offending and drug use questions. Furthermore, the experimental manipulation showed that questions about recent time frames were rated as more sensitive than questions covering a longer period of time. The present findings allow future methodological research on offending behavior to control for question sensitivity. Also, this study shows that recall periods impact respondents' perceptions of question sensitivity.