Surveying mentally retarded persons: responsiveness and response validity in three samples

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Survey research is a common tool for data collection.
• Understanding the capabilities of diverse populations in research is crucial.
• Previous research on survey methodology with individuals with intellectual disabilities is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the feasibility and utility of survey research with individuals with intellectual disabilities.
• To examine how intellectual quotient (IQ) influences interview responses in this population.
• To provide implications for researchers conducting studies with individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Main Methods:

• Interviews were conducted with institutionalized children (n=52), institutionalized adults (n=58), and community children (n=57).
• Parents or attendants of participants were also interviewed.
• Data were analyzed to assess responsiveness, agreement with informants, and acquiescence based on IQ.

Main Results:

• Higher IQ participants demonstrated greater responsiveness to interview questions.
• Individuals with higher IQs showed more agreement with nonretarded informants.
• Higher IQ interviewees were less prone to acquiescence on yes-no questions compared to lower IQ individuals.

Conclusions:

• Survey research is feasible with individuals with intellectual disabilities.
• Participant IQ is a significant factor influencing interview data quality.
• Researchers should consider IQ when designing and conducting interviews with individuals with intellectual disabilities to enhance data validity.