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Comprehension Context and Sponsor Effects in a Hospital Mental Health Study

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  • C. Ben Gibson
  • Timothy B. Mayhall

Abstract

Although a wealth of literature exists studying the effect of sponsor characteristics on self-reports of mental health, little work assesses a related but potentially powerful effect: a context comprehension effect, that is, a change in the respondent’s interpretation of a survey question, given the concept elicited by the interviewer. Further, most studies of sponsor effects assess mean differences in responses according to sponsor type; no work has studied how these effects can affect the reliability of a psychometric instrument, which are of general importance to sociological studies of health. Here, using a study of 169 recently discharged hospital patients, we find that both effects are likely to have affected responses and, together, negated the reliability of a psychometric instrument. Future studies should consider the effect of not only sponsor characteristics upon responses but also consider how questions might be interpreted given in an interview context.

Suggested Citation

  • C. Ben Gibson & Timothy B. Mayhall, 2019. "Comprehension Context and Sponsor Effects in a Hospital Mental Health Study," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 48(3), pages 677-697, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:somere:v:48:y:2019:i:3:p:677-697
    DOI: 10.1177/0049124117729706
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shelley Boulianne & Casey A. Klofstad & Danna Basson, 2010. "Sponsor Prominence and Responses Patterns to an Online Survey," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 3048e3067e0742adb9bad893e, Mathematica Policy Research.
    2. repec:mpr:mprres:6885 is not listed on IDEAS
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