Honest by Chance: A Qualitative Interview Study to Clarify Respondents’ (Non-)Compliance With Computer-Assisted Randomized Response Honnête par chance, une étude qualitative par entretien de la (non) coopération dans une enquête assistée par ordinateur et à réponse randomisée

The randomized response method (RRM) is intended to minimize evasive responses to sensitive social questions. This study examines how respondents participate in the RRM and how their participation contributes to (in)adequate answers. Eleven respondents, all social service clients, answered twelve questions in a computer-assisted survey. The forced response technique was used as the RRM, and computerised dice (internal randomiser) were alternated with manual dice (external randomiser). Respondents’ behaviour was video taped. Afterwards, a qualitative interview was conducted which was audio-taped. The results show that the RRM caused very few problems. All respondents had trouble giving false answers forced by dice and, as a consequence, some cheated. Moreover, their individual interest, capping of their social service allowance, determined their compliance since it overruled all other arguments even when the respondents understood the RRM. © 2002, SAGE Publications Ltd. All rights reserved.