Abstract: | ABSTRACT In this article we investigate the design of scoring schemes for surveys using the block total response method. This method was first proposed by Raghavarao and Federer (1979 Raghavarao , D. , Federer , W. T. ( 1979 ). Block total response as an alternative to the randomized response method in surveys . J. Roy. Statist. Soc. 41 ( 1 ): 40 – 45 . [CSA] [CROSSREF] [Google Scholar]) to provide accurate estimates of the base rates of sensitive characteristics using balanced incomplete block designs. The scoring scheme used in Raghavarao and Federer (1979 Raghavarao , D. , Federer , W. T. ( 1979 ). Block total response as an alternative to the randomized response method in surveys . J. Roy. Statist. Soc. 41 ( 1 ): 40 – 45 . [CSA] [CROSSREF] [Google Scholar]) did not guarantee anonymity of answers and so the possibility of improving on this basic scoring scheme is considered in this article. |