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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 12, 2026

A Protocol for Detecting and Scavenging Gas-phase Free Radicals in Mainstream Cigarette Smoke

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Published on: January 2, 2012

When Do Misunderstandings Matter? Evidence From Survey Interviews About Smoking.

Michael F Schober¹, Anna L Suessbrick¹, Frederick G Conrad²

¹Department of Psychology, The New School for Social Research.

Topics in Cognitive Science

|April 10, 2018

Summary

Conceptual misunderstandings in surveys are common and can lead to inaccurate data. Even when clarified, communication breakdowns in research interviews may not always be resolved effectively.

Keywords:

Comprehension Conceptualization Interpretation Interviewing Miscommunication Reliability Smoking Survey

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Area of Science:

Social Sciences
Communication Studies
Survey Methodology

Background:

Conceptual misalignments in dialogue can cause significant miscommunication.
Mismeasurement in surveys by governments and social scientists carries substantial social costs.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the conditions under which conceptual misalignments in dialogue lead to consequential miscommunication.
To explore misunderstandings in survey interviews, particularly concerning ordinary expressions.

Main Methods:

Quantified conceptual misalignment by probing respondent interpretations of survey terms in 131 tobacco use interviews.
Re-administered survey questionnaires with standard definitions post-interview to assess impact.
Analyzed instances where clarification attempts during interviews did or did not improve conceptual alignment.

Main Results:

Respondent interpretations of terms like "smoking" and "every day" were highly variable and often misaligned with researcher intentions.
12% of respondents provided different answers on lifetime cigarette smoking after receiving a standard definition, indicating consequential mismeasurement.
Clarification attempts did not consistently improve conceptual alignment; some failed or worsened understanding.

Conclusions:

Conceptual misalignments are frequent in ordinary conversation and may go undetected.
Attempts to detect and clarify misunderstandings in research settings are not always successful.
Unresolved misunderstandings do not always impact survey outcomes, but their potential for mismeasurement is significant.