No-Opinion Filters and Attitude Measurement Reliability

Many survey researchers believe that the quality of answers to attitude questions may be improved by using no-opinion filters to remove those responses that are not based on true opinions. The authors investigate whether reliability, one aspect of data quality, is greater for filtered questions. Split-ballot experiments from two telephone surveys of the Akron, Ohio metropolitan area are used to estimate the effect of filtered questions on the reliability of items from Srole's anomia scale, Rosenberg's self-esteem scale, and a scale of attitudes toward lawyers. There is no evidence that filtered questions improve reliability, and in the case of self-esteem, reliability may be reduced on the filtered form.