We test the hypothesis that respondents with a strong attitude that surveys in general cannot be trusted are more susceptible to item nonresponse. This is done separately for the don’t know and refusal rate observed for subjective and factual questions. In a comparative perspective, using data...

The respondents in social surveys often answer in a socially desirable, rather than in a truthful manner. Although several factors are found to influence the strength of this social desirability response bias, their interplay with each other is widely neglected because of the insufficient...

A strongly modified and with psychological components enhanced Rational-Choice Model, for explaining the influence of differently categorized frequency scales on the survey response behavior, is proposed. Here, the assumption of perfect rationality is abandoned and instead, the respondents are...

The Prospect-Theory only vaguely specifies the factors expected to determine the decision maker's reference points and therefore the emergence of framing-effects. This theoretical shortcoming is demonstrated, using the usually proposed explanation for the wording-effects observed in the context...

In behavioral decision research a very heterogeneous set of empirical phenomena is summarized under the label

This article examines the mutual dependency of the determinants for socially desirable response behavior and the until now completely neglected relevance of the respondents attitudes towards surveys in this respect. Results from a field experiment show that this response bias is only to be...

A two-stage model for explaining heuristic-based framing-effects is presented and empirically tested. This type of framing-effects is the result of heuristic cues provided by the framing-conditions and the actors insufficient elaborated information processing strategies. In the first stage of...

This article tests the prediction from the Erikson-Jonsson (EJ) rational-choice model that altogether eight financial as well as non-financial dimensions of costs and returns of education, as well as the probability of being able to successfully realise educational credential simultaneously...

In sociology it has been much debated whether the normativist-culturalist or the rational choice perspective better explains social phenomena. Since each has received considerable empirical support, an integrated account of norms and rationality is much needed. The Model of Frame Selection...

This article tests whether the Breen-Goldthorpe model offers an empirically valid prediction of educational decisions and a complete explanation of social class hereon. This is done using data from a panel study with families who decided about the secondary school tracks for their children in...