Measuring Attentiveness in Self-Administered Surveys.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the literature on survey inattention—also termed inattentive responding or insufficient effort responding—in online self-administered surveys, a growing concern due to its impact on data quality in public opinion research. It reviews the varied terminology used across disciplines, distinguishes between direct measures (e.g., instructional manipulation checks and bogus items) and indirect measures (e.g., response time and response pattern analyses) for identifying inattentive respondents, and discusses challenges related to measurement implementation, validation, and cutoff thresholds. The article emphasizes the importance of transparency in reporting attentiveness measurement decisions and handling inattentive respondents, noting that removing such respondents can improve data quality but may also introduce bias or reduce external validity. It concludes by highlighting unresolved debates and future research directions, including interdisciplinary collaboration, methodological refinement, and adapting to evolving survey modes such as mobile devices.