Gender-Biased Data in Survey Research Regarding Wildlife

Abstract

Underrepresentation of females among respondents to mail surveys focused on wildlife is a growing concern for survey researchers. In an effort to better understand why females are underrepresented, we analyzed the sample frame of a wildlife-focused survey for which a notable disparity existed between the number of male and female respondents in relation to actual population figures. An analysis of the sample frame used for this study indicated that male bias existed that likely contributed to female underrepresentation among survey respondents. Suggestions are made for improving sampling frames to minimize gender bias.