Can Changes in Context Reduce Vote Overreporting in Surveys?

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Abstract
This paper reports the results of two split-sample experiments desinged to examine whether question context can reduce vote overreporting in surveys. The first experiment tests the effects of preceding the turnout item with a question about the location of the polling place. If respondents who overreport do not know where their polling place is, they should be less apt to report incorrectly about turnout after being asked the location of the poll. The second experiment tests the effects of preceding the vote item with a question about lifetime electoral behaviour. If inaccurancy is dueto respondent's wanting to present themselves in a favourable light, the oppurtunity to report past or usual good citizenship should reduce the pressure to claim participation in the last election.

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