Summary:
Panel data offers a unique opportunity to identify data that interviewers clearly faked by comparing data waves. In the German Socio–Economic Panel (SOEP), only 0.5 percent of all records of raw data have been detected as faked. These fakes are used here to analyze the potential impact of fakes on survey results. Due to our central finding the faked records have no impact on the mean or the proportions. However, we show that there may be a serious bias in the estimation of correlations and regression coefficients. In all but one year (1998), the detected faked data have never been disseminated within the widely–used SOEP study. The fakes are removed prior to data release.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
* We are grateful to participants in the workshop on ‘Item Nonresponse and Data Quality on Large Social Surveys’ for useful critique and comments, especially Rainer Schnell and our outstanding discussant Regina Riphahn. The usual disclaimer applies.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schraepler, J., Wagner*, G.G. Characteristics and impact of faked interviews in surveys – An analysis of genuine fakes in the raw data of SOEP. Allgemeines Statistisches Arch 89, 7– 20 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s101820500188
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s101820500188