Publication Details

The randomized response technique: A review and application

Type: Paper

Subtype: Final Report

Author(s): Hochberg, Yosef; Stutts, Jane C.; Reinfurt, Donald W.

Publisher: UNC Highway Safety Research Center

Url: https://finding-aids.lib.unc.edu/40114/

Publication Date: May-1976

Number: DOT-HS-4-00897-4

Address: Chapel Hill, NC

Abstract: The purpose of this report is to describe a relatively new interviewing technique and examine its potential use in the field of highway safety research. This technique, which intends to encourage truthful responses in personal interviews on sensitive issues, is known as the Randomized Response Technique (RRT). After a brief introduction in Chapter I, Chapter II outlines the theoretical development of the technique, from its inception by Warner in 1965. Chapter III presents the results of some of the more pertinent field research, conducted on such topics as illegitimacy, abortion and drug usage, and then Chapter IV describes HSRC's efforts to extend application of the technique in the area of highway safety. From its experience with the RRT, HSRC concludes that much additional field research is needed before the technique can be of any great value to highway safety researchers. Also included in the report are two appendices which extend the theoretical development of the technique. Appendix A delineates two variations on a two stage randomized response scheme (TSRRS), while Appendix B outlines procedures for using a RRT on a subsample of a larger sample of possibly misclassified responses, to obtain a more reliable estimate of the parameter of interest.