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Common measures of vaccination intention generate substantially different estimates that can reduce predictive
Jessica Fishman1,2, K Aleks Schaefer3, Daniel Scheitrum4
1Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. Jessica.fishman@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.
Scientific Reports
|October 1, 2024
Summary
Survey question format significantly impacts vaccination intention estimates. Including an "Unsure" option alters results, especially for COVID-19 vaccines, highlighting the need for careful survey design.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Survey Methodology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Estimating vaccination intentions is crucial for public health interventions.
- Survey response options (dichotomous vs. trichotomous) and their order may influence reported intentions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how different survey response formats (dichotomous vs. trichotomous) and option order affect vaccination intention estimates.
- To examine these effects across COVID-19, COVID-19 booster, and influenza vaccines.
Main Methods:
- A controlled experiment with U.S. adults (N=4,764) randomized participants to different survey response formats.
- Vaccination intentions were measured using dichotomous ('Yes'/'No') and trichotomous ('Yes'/'Unsure'/'No') options, with varied response order.
Main Results:
- Vaccine intention estimates varied significantly (up to 37.5 percentage points) based on response set (dichotomous vs. trichotomous).
- The 'Unsure' option's effect differed based on prior COVID-19 vaccination status, influencing 'Yes'/'No' proportions.
- Response option order ('Yes'/'No') did not significantly impact results.
Conclusions:
- Survey design, specifically the inclusion of an 'Unsure' option, can substantially alter vaccination intention measurements.
- The 'Unsure' category may introduce doubt or reduce reliance on past behavior, with effects varying by vaccine and participant history.
- Further research is needed to understand the nuanced effects of the 'Unsure' option on vaccination intentions.
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