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Initial elevation bias in subjective reports

Author

Listed:
  • Patrick E. Shrout

    (Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY 10003)

  • Gertraud Stadler

    (Aberdeen Health Psychology Group, Department of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, Scotland, United Kingdom)

  • Sean P. Lane

    (Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906)

  • M. Joy McClure

    (Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY 11530)

  • Grace L. Jackson

    (Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095)

  • Frederick D. Clavél

    (Department of Psychology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011)

  • Masumi Iida

    (T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287)

  • Marci E. J. Gleason

    (Department of Human Development and Family Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712)

  • Joy H. Xu

    (Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY 10003)

  • Niall Bolger

    (Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027)

Abstract

People’s reports of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are used in many fields of biomedical and social science. When these states have been studied over time, researchers have often observed an unpredicted and puzzling decrease with repeated assessment. When noted, this pattern has been called an “attenuation effect,” suggesting that the effect is due to bias in later reports. However, the pattern could also be consistent with an initial elevation bias. We present systematic, experimental investigations of this effect in four field studies (study 1: n = 870; study 2: n = 246; study 3: n = 870; study 4: n = 141). Findings show clear support for an initial elevation bias rather than a later decline. This bias is larger for reports of internal states than for behaviors and for negative mental states and physical symptoms than for positive states. We encourage increased awareness and investigation of this initial elevation bias in all research using subjective reports.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick E. Shrout & Gertraud Stadler & Sean P. Lane & M. Joy McClure & Grace L. Jackson & Frederick D. Clavél & Masumi Iida & Marci E. J. Gleason & Joy H. Xu & Niall Bolger, 2018. "Initial elevation bias in subjective reports," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 115(1), pages 15-23, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:115:y:2018:p:e15-e23
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    Cited by:

    1. Praneet K. Gill & Cynthia Du & Farihah Khan & Nima Karimi & Kanav Sabharwal & Malvika Agarwal, 2022. "The psychological effects of COVID-19 spread in young Canadian adults," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 68(1), pages 216-222, February.
    2. Giulia Fuochi & Alberto Voci, 2021. "Dealing with the Ups and Downs of Life: Positive Dispositions in Coping with Negative and Positive Events and Their Relationships with Well-Being Indicators," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 2435-2456, August.
    3. Wang, Xinghua & Navarro-Martinez, Daniel, 2023. "Increasing the external validity of social preference games by reducing measurement error," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 261-285.
    4. Toffanin, Riccardo & Curti, Vinicio & Barbato, Maurizio C., 2021. "Impact of Legionella regulation on a 4th generation district heating substation energy use and cost: the case of a Swiss single-family household," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).

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