Survey Cognitive Burden, Question Difficulty, and Victimization Disclosure

Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center 

Research on the cognitive burden of violence-related topics across survey formats using web panels is limited; this study addresses this gap. Data were drawn from a web panel, and participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: an interleafed format beginning with intimate partner–perpetrated physical violence (IP-PV) items followed by any perpetrator-perpetrated stalking and sexual violence (SV) items; a grouped format in which IP-PV items followed stalking and SV items; or a grouped format in which IP-PV items preceded stalking and SV items. After reporting experiences of stalking, SV, and intimate partner–perpetrated violence (IPV; including stalking, contact SV [CSV], and PV), participants rated perceived burden and navigational difficulty. Associations between perceived cognitive burden and victimization were analyzed across conditions, controlling for demographics. Compared with non-victims, victims of CSV, stalking, or IPV had significantly higher odds of reporting cognitive burden (AOR ≥ 2.2 for women; AOR ≥ 1.5 for men) and difficulty navigating the survey (AOR ≥ 2.1 for women; AOR ≥ 2.8 for men). Format interaction effects were largely not observed.

Survey methodology

Questionnaire formats

Cognitive burden

Probability web panels

Violence victimization

Data collection 

Survey Research Methods Section