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Uncovering digital trace data biases: tracking undercoverage in web tracking data

Author

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  • Bosch, Oriol J.

    (The London School of Economics and Political Science)

  • Sturgis, Patrick
  • Kuha, Jouni
  • Revilla, Melanie

Abstract

In the digital age, understanding people’s online behaviours is vital. Digital trace data has emerged as a popular alternative to surveys, many times hailed as the gold standard. This study critically assesses the use of web tracking data to study online media exposure. Specifically, we focus on a critical error source of this type of data, tracking undercoverage: researchers’ failure to capture data from all the devices and browsers that individuals utilize to go online. Using data from Spain, Portugal, and Italy, we explore undercoverage in commercial online panels and simulate biases in online media exposure estimates. The paper shows that tracking undercoverage is highly prevalent when using commercial panels, with more than 70% of participants affected. In addition, the primary determinant of undercoverage is the type and number of devices employed for internet access, rather than individual characteristics and attitudes. Additionally, through a simulation study, it demonstrates that web tracking estimates, both univariate and multivariate, are often substantially biased due to tracking undercoverage. This represent the first empirical evidence demonstrating that web tracking data is, effectively, biased. Methodologically, the paper showcases how survey questions can be used as auxiliary information to identify and simulate web tracking errors.

Suggested Citation

  • Bosch, Oriol J. & Sturgis, Patrick & Kuha, Jouni & Revilla, Melanie, 2023. "Uncovering digital trace data biases: tracking undercoverage in web tracking data," SocArXiv t2dbj, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:t2dbj
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/t2dbj
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Albert Padró-Solanet & Joan Balcells, 2022. "Media Diet and Polarisation: Evidence from Spain," South European Society and Politics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(1), pages 75-95, January.
    2. Andrew M. Guess & Brendan Nyhan & Jason Reifler, 2020. "Exposure to untrustworthy websites in the 2016 US election," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(5), pages 472-480, May.
    3. Ridhi Kashyap & Masoomali Fatehkia & Reham Al Tamime & Ingmar Weber, 2020. "Monitoring global digital gender inequality using the online populations of Facebook and Google," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 43(27), pages 779-816.
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