What could be an outcome of response error in survey research?

Biased results are a common outcome of response error in survey research. Response error occurs when participants provide inaccurate information, which may stem from misunderstandings of survey questions, lack of knowledge, or even social desirability bias where individuals respond in a way they believe is more acceptable rather than how they truly feel. When such errors occur, the data collected does not accurately reflect the true opinions, behaviors, or characteristics of the population being studied. This can lead to distorted conclusions and affect the overall validity of the research findings.

In contrast, increased response rates typically suggest better engagement or clarity in the survey design, and improved sampling accuracy would reflect a well-constructed sampling strategy that minimizes errors. Higher reliability of data is achieved when measures consistently yield the same results upon repeated trials, which is not guaranteed in the presence of response errors. Thus, the presence of response error fundamentally undermines the integrity and reliability of research outcomes, primarily by introducing bias.