Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Summary
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by GILLJAM, M.
Right arrow Articles by GRANBERG, D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Public Opinion Quarterly 57:348-357 (1993)
© 1993 American Association for Public Opinion Research

SHOULD WE TAKE DON'T KNOW FOR AN ANSWER?

MIKAEL GILLJAM, associate professor of political science and DONALD GRANBERG, professor of sociology

Göteborg University Sweden
The University of Missouri—Columbia

Much attention has been given to the problem of non-attitudes, that is, people expressing opinions while lacking an underlying attitude (false positives). In comparison, the potential problem of false negatives, people with an attitude who decline to express an opinion, has been neglected. Using a survey on nuclear power from Sweden, we examine whether people who answer "don't know" but are induced subsequently to give an opinion really have attitudes. The attitudes these people express on follow-up questions predict behavior to a significant extent. This implies that the usual don't know category includes some false negatives, that is, people who really have attitudes but refrain, at least initially, from expressing them.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Field MethodsHome page
J. A. van den Brakel, R. Vis-Visschers, and J. J. G. Schmeets
An Experiment with Data Collection Modes and Incentives in the Dutch Family and Fertility Survey for Young Moroccans and Turks
Field Methods, August 1, 2006; 18(3): 321 - 334.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Field MethodsHome page
T. C. M. Lam, K. E. Green, and C. Bordignon
Effects of Item Grouping and Position of the "Don't Know" Option on Questionnaire Response
Field Methods, November 1, 2002; 14(4): 418 - 432.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Social Science Computer ReviewHome page
C. Derouvray and M. P. Couper
Designing a Strategy for Reducing "No Opinion" Responses in Web-Based Surveys
Social Science Computer Review, February 1, 2002; 20(1): 3 - 9.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Social Science InformationHome page
M. Bauer
Socio-demographic correlates of DK-responses in knowledge surveys: self-attributed ignorance of science
Social Science Information, March 1, 1996; 35(1): 39 - 68.
[Abstract]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.