Effects of Interviewer Gender on Survey Responses: Findings from a Household Survey in Mexico

Abstract

In the social sciences, most studies on gender-of-interviewer effects have focused on questions dealing with sexual behavior and gender roles, as well as on response rates. Results from these analyses have been mixed, sometimes showing little evidence of effects (Johnson & DeLamater, 1976; Johnson & Moore, 1993) and other times suggesting non-trivial biases (Landis, Sullivan & Sheley, 1973; Galla, Frisone, Jeffrey, & Gaer, 1981; Lueptow, Moser, & Pendleton, 1990; Catania et al., 1996; Tu & Liao, 2007). In addition, response effects have not always been found in the same direction. While Galla et al. (1981) argue that more ‘non-traditional’ responses occur for both male and female respondents only when facing a female interviewer, Lueptow et al. (1990) and Huddy et al. (1997) sustain that effects are stronger among female respondents who are interviewed by another female, and Kane and Macaulay (1993) claim that ‘more egalitarian’ answers are more pervasive among male respondents interviewed by a woman.