Improving The Estimation of Moderating Effects by Using Computer-Administered Questionnaires

Abstract

A program designed to administer questionnaires on IBM and IBM-compatible personal computers is documented. The program prompts subjects to indicate their response by clicking on a graphic line segment displayed on the screen or by entering a numeric value using the keyboard. Features of the program include (a) easily modifiable anchors for the graphic line segment (e.g., agree-disagree, satisfied-dissatisfied), (b) no limit to the number of questions included, and (c) responses that are stored directly into an ASCII file. The program enhances the accuracy in estimating moderating effects because it overcomes two limitations of the more traditional paper-and-pencil mode of administration: (a) transcriptional errors and (b) scale coarseness.