| Abstract: | This research shows, as have previous studies, that a substantialnumber of people will offer opinions on fictitious topics inthe context of a survey interview. The results of a split-ballotexperiment (and a replication) with three fictitious publicaffairs issues suggest that people give opinions on such mattersin large part because of the pressure to answer survey questionsthat is created by the way in which the questions are askedand by the manner in which "don't know" responses are handledby the interviewer. The findings also indicate that there maybe little or no relationship between an individual's willingnessto admit ignorance and his or her inclination to volunteer opinionson fictitious issues, as measured by at least one item fromthe Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. In addition, thedata demonstrate that blacks and less well-educated respondentsare more likely than their counterparts to offer opinions onfictitious issues. |
