Applying the Randomized Response Technique to Elicit Truthful Responses to Sensitive Questions in IS Research: The Case of Software Piracy Behavior.

Author List: Kwan, Samuel S. K.; So, Mike K. P.; Tam, Kar Yan;
Information Systems Research, 2010, Volume 21, Issue 4, Page 941-959.
Research on software piracy often relies on self-reports by individual users and thus suffers from possible response distortion attributable to a variety of human motivations. Conclusions drawn directly from distorted self-reports may misguide managerial and policy decisions. The randomized response technique (RRT) was proposed as a remedy to response distortion. In this paper, a model based on RRT was used to illustrate how truthful responses to sensitive questions can be empirically estimated. The model was tested in two empirical studies on software piracy. Consistent with our expectations, respondents responding to RRT were more willing to disclose sensitive information about their attitudes, intentions, and behaviors on software piracy. Nontrivial distortions were demonstrated in causal relationships involving sensitive and nonsensitive variables. The study extends RRT to multivariate analysis and illustrates the feasibility and usefulness of the method in studying sensitive behavioral issues in the information systems (IS) domain.
Keywords: method of moments; randomized response technique; response distortion; socially desirable responding; software piracy; structural equation modeling; unrelated question design
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#219 0.211 response responses different survey questions results research activities respond benefits certain leads two-stage interactions study address respondents question directly categories
#11 0.176 structural pls measurement modeling equation research formative squares partial using indicators constructs construct statistical models researchers latent analysis results sem
#201 0.118 piracy goods digital property intellectual rights protection presence legal consumption music consumers enforcement publisher pirate producers policies copyright provision profits
#17 0.114 empirical model relationships causal framework theoretical construct results models terms paper relationship based argue proposed literature issues assumptions provide suggest
#236 0.095 form items item sensitive forms variety rates contexts fast coefficients meaning higher robust scores hardware providing compared single complete subgroups
#82 0.081 case study studies paper use research analysis interpretive identify qualitative approach understanding critical development managerial elements exploring points positivist presents
#232 0.054 software development product functionality period upgrade sampling examines extent suggests factors considered useful uncertainty previous called complementarities greater cost present