Measurement and Representation Bias in Responses on Educational Level in Public Opinion Research
Rogozin D.M.
Сand. Sci. (Sociol.), Director of Field Research Center Institute of Social Analysis and Forecast, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration; Senior Researcher, Institute of Sociology of FСТAS RAS, Moscow, Russia nizgor@gmail.com
The article was written on the basis of the RANEPA state assignment research programme.
Rogozin D.M. Measurement and Representation Bias in Responses on Educational Level in Public Opinion Research. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2022. No 9. P. 49-59
The article presents results of methodological testing of the question about education in a standardized interview. Four hypotheses about the presence of errors in measurement and representation are formulated. The hypothesis about the influence on the responses of public opinion associated with social approval and, as a result, an overestimation of the level of education in the responses, was refuted. The hypothesis about the presence of significant biases associated with nonresponses, unpreparedness for the standardized format of communication of the most vulnerable, poor and uneducated social groups was confirmed. Recommendations are presented for adapting the survey tool to the life world of people who do not have higher education.